-Indian Farmers hold rallies in front of Indian parliament in a renewed push to pressure government to repeal farm laws
-Rahul Gandhi drives Tractor to Indian Parliament in solidarity with protesting Farmers
-Congress General Secretary, Youth Congress Chief & other party workers were detained by the Indian police
-Indian Farmers continue struggle against farm laws
DM Monitoring
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi drove a tractor to parliament on Monday morning to show solidarity with farmers who have been protesting against the Union government’s controversial farm laws.
“I’ve brought farmers’ message to Parliament. They (the government) are suppressing voices of farmers and not letting a discussion take place in Parliament. They’ll have to repeal these black laws. The entire country knows these laws favour 2-3 big businessmen,” Gandhi said, according to media.
“As per the government, farmers are very happy and those (protesting farmers) sitting outside are terrorists. But in reality, farmers’ rights are being snatched away,” he continued. Protesting farmers, who have been camped at Delhi’s borders for eight months now, are running a ‘Kisan Sansad’ at Jantar Mantar, parallel to the monsoon session of parliament not far away.
Delhi Congress leader Alka Lamba alleged that the police have put her under “house arrest” because she was going to join the protest at Jantar Mantar today.
Speaking to local media, Lamba said, “I had made an announcement yesterday that I will take part in the Mahila Kisan Sansad to be held at Jantar Mantar today.
However, at 10 am, a team of the Delhi Police arrived at my house who said I can’t leave home as it can lead to law and order problem. They said I didn’t seek permission to take part in it. I told them in a democracy, one doesn’t have to take permission from the police for everything. At 1 pm, they are still in front of my house with several women constables.”
“The police is asking me to give it in writing that I won’t go to Jantar Mantar today and only then will they leave my premises. I told them that I am now seeking permission to be at Jantar Mantar on August 9 for the Kisan Sansad; if I am given permission for it then I can give it in writing that I will not leave home today. They have refused to give me permission for it,” she continued.
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala, Youth Congress chief Srinivas B.V. and other party workers too were detained by the police, allegedly for breaking restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
On Monday, farmers had organised an all-women gathering at Jantar Mantar to mark eight months of the protest. “[Monday’s] Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar will be conducted entirely by women.
The Mahila Kisan Sansad will reflect the key role that women play in Indian agriculture, and their critical role in the ongoing movement too.
Convoys of women farmers from various districts are reaching the morchas for the Mahila Kisan Sansad,” the Samyukt Kisan Morcha had said in a statement.
Both houses of parliament were adjourned again on Monday after several opposition parties insisted that they be allowed to discuss the Pegasus spyware issue and the farmers’ protest.
Moreover, Indian farmers, protesting about three new farm laws they say threaten their livelihoods, will start a sit-in demonstration near parliament in the centre of the capital New Delhi in a renewed push to pressure the government to repeal the laws.
In the longest-running growers’ protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, tens of thousands of farmers have camped out on main highways leading to New Delhi for more than seven months.
As India’s monsoon session of parliament began this week, some protesting farmers tried to march towards the main government district but they were stopped by police just miles from parliament.
On Thursday, 200 protesters will gather at Jantar Mantar, a large Mughal-era observatory in central New Delhi that doubles up as a protest site for all manner of causes.
“Throughout the monsoon session of parliament, 200 farmers will go to Jantar Mantar every day to hold farmers’ parliament to remind the government of our long-pending demand,” said Balbir Singh Rajewal, a leading farmers’ leader.
The monsoon session of parliament will end in early August.
After extended negotiations, New Delhi police have agreed to let 200 farmers gather during the day at Jantar Mantar but the protesters need to follow coronavirus guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, a government statement said.
In late January, thousands of angry farmers clashed with police after driving their tractors into security barriers. One protester was killed and more than 80 police officers were injured across the city.
Farmers say the laws favour large private retailers who, prior to the new laws, were not permitted to procure farm goods outside government-regulated wholesale grain markets.
The government says the laws, introduced in September 2020, will unshackle farmers from having to sell their produce only at regulated wholesale markets.
It argues farmers will gain if large traders, retailers and food processors can buy directly from producers.
