Thousands of tribal people began a long march on January 25 in Maharashtra. They have walked more than 80 kilometres and will continue towards Mumbai on January 27. They refused to stop without meeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and getting assurance on their demands. On January 26, Republic Day, the protesters celebrated on the Nashik-Mumbai highway. They tied the National Flag high on the leading truck of the march. A group of protest leaders, including CPI(M) and All India Kisan Sabha members, will meet government officials and ministers in Mumbai on January 27. The march is expected to reach Mumbai by February 3. The main demands are land rights, water issues, education, and jobs. The big issue is the high rate of rejection of land claims under the Forest Rights Act. They also worry about promises on river water that remain unfulfilled. Ashok Dhawale, president of All India Kisan Sabha, said, "Our demand is that the tribals should get their land rights. The implementation of the Forest Rights Act should be done in letter and spirit. The percentage of the denial of land rights of these tribals is still quite high in Maharashtra. There is the issue of the diversion of river water as well, something which was promised to us during our 2018 long march. That promise for the fulfilment of water needs of tribals, has not yet been fulfilled. The Guardian Minister of Nashik met us today, and asked us to withdraw our protest. We have flatly refused it. We will not back off till our demands are fulfilled this time." Earlier, Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan asked the protesters to stop. He promised a meeting on January 27 with all ministers and officials to solve their issues. The protesters, however, refused to accept this offer. Mahajan said, "They have started their protest because of some pending issues. I have had a meeting with them. These are all resolvable issues. All these matters are related to tribal affairs, revenue department, education department. We will hold a meeting in mantralay after the cabinet on Tuesday, and will resolve them." The National Highway was lively with red flags on January 26. Thousands of men and women walked in order behind trucks carrying banners and flags. Dhawale also said, "The contribution of Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar to the framing of the Constitution was recalled, homage was paid to the martyrs of the freedom struggle and of all later struggles of the toiling people, and the defence of the fundamental Constitutional values of sovereignty, democracy, secularism and socialism were underlined."