Farmers Movement Archive

To support farmers, Rahul-led oppn joins stir at Jantar Mantar

NEW DELHI: Opposition parties on Friday joined the kisan protest at Jantar Mantar to express their solidarity with the farmers and reiterated their demand that the Modi government withdraw the three controversial agri-laws. The opposition bloc, led by Rahul Gandhi, participated as visitors in the 'Kisan Sansad' organised by the protesting farmers in the form of a "mock Parliament" where they held discussions on the "kala kanoon (black laws)". Later, Rahul told reporters that government's offer of a discussion in Parliament on farm laws was not acceptable and it would have to revoke the three laws. "The Opposition today [Friday] met the farmers and expressed support in their fight against the 'kala kanoon'," he said. Rahul also said that discussions must be held on the Pegasus snooping scandal as it was a serious matter with "Prime Minister Narendra Modi having put spyware in the phones of Indians". The visit to Jantar Mantar was significant as the protesters, since the beginning, claimed that they wanted to keep their agitation apolitical and have aggressively discouraged parties during last seven months since they collected at the borders of Delhi. The political leaders on Friday too were not seated on the protest dais nor did they address the gathering. The decision to join the protest was taken in a meeting of floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in Kharge's chamber on Friday morning. Among the participants of 14 parties were Mallikarjun Kharge, Ambika Soni, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), TKS Elangovan (DMK), Manoj Jha (RJD), Elamaram Kareem (CPM), NK Premchandran (RSP), Binoy Viswam (CPI) and Mohammed Bashir (IUML).

The Times of India

2021-08-07

India