Our concerns not being addressed in Parliament, say farmers’ leaders as protest reaches Delhi’s Jantar Mantar

The protesters have also launched a ‘farmers’ parliament’ with an aim to stage the demands of the cultivators who believe that the new farm laws will be detrimental to them.

Amit Pandey
| Updated: July 22nd, 2021

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait addressing the protestors. Photo: Amit Pandey

Nearly eight months after the farmers’ agitation against the controversial farm laws started on the borders of the national capital last year, the protesters reached Jantar Mantar today, on July 22.

The protesters told the media that their concerns are not being addressed and demanded that the ‘anti-farmer’ legislation should be taken back.

The protesters have also launched a ‘farmers’ parliament’ with an aim to stage the demands of the cultivators who believe that the new farm laws will be detrimental to them.

The demonstration is led by leaders such as Swaraj India’s chief Yogendra Yadav, Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, Shiv Kumar Kakka, national president of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh and Hannan Mollah, General Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha.

“This is the farmers’ parliament established here. The coming days will witness proposals being passed through this parliament. This parliament ‘cancels’ the three farm laws and today,  the main proposal of the demand to repeal the farm laws will be sent to the government,” Tikait said in his address at the protest.

Also, Swaraj India’s Yadav stated that a police force of 40,000 personnel to tackle 200 protestors shows that the government is aware that they represent a far larger number of people who believe that the farm laws are anti-farmers.

“We don’t have trust in this government but we believe that democratic means will soon make this government respond to our demands. It is important to govern this country by being against the farmers’ interests,” Yadav said.

Meanwhile, in close proximity with the Jantar Mantar where the farmers are protesting, the political atmosphere at the Parliament is tense as the opposition leaders’ protests have led to repeated disruptions and adjournments.

Opposition leaders protesting outside the Parliament. Photo: Twitter/Rahul Gandhi

Opposition leaders under the leadership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi protested against the farm laws outside the Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar stated in the Lok Sabha that the government is ready to hold talks with the protestors.

“We have tried to engage the farmers for talks as well. We held 11 rounds of discussions but the farmers are hell bent upon their demand to repeal the laws,” Tomar said. 

Read this report in Hindi