More than 20 detained during protest by dam project-affected people at Mumbai's Mantralaya

In what comes as a shocker, several farmers and dam project-affected people from Wardha jumped onto the heavy safety nets installed in the foyer of the Mantralaya, the state secretariat in Mumbai, on Tuesday, to press for their long-pending demands.

A few years back, safety nets were installed on the first floor of the main concourse of the Mantralaya building as a precautionary measure to prevent suicide attempts.

The farmers also sported black posters with ‘Upper Wardha Action Committee’ and said that despite repeated reminders their demands were not accepted.

The farmers allege that they were not allowed to meet the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

The farmers came inside Mantralaya in small groups, raising slogans against the government and jumped on the safety nets from the upper floors.

They were later escorted out by police.

“Farmers are doing a risky protest inside the Mantralaya. This callous government has failed to provide promised compensation, it doesn't even bother to address farmer issues,” AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon said.