Farmers and labourers from various states staged a protest at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday to protest against Centre's policies, reported news agency PTI. Hundreds of people could be seen protesting at the Kisan Sangharsh rally while holding the communists' flag.
PTI posted a short clip from Ramlila Maidan showcasing the protest.
The protesters are demanding relief from inflation, legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP), minimum wage for all workers at Rs 26,000 per month, debt relief, pension to all farmers above 60 years of age, four anti-labour code laws and withdrawal of Electricity Amendment Bill 2020.
The protest march, backed by the CPI(M), has been called by three unions -- All India Agriculture Workers Union (AIAWU), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).
About 300 academics, actors, writers, journalists, and defence veterans have pledged their support to the protest.
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Haryana, vice-president Satvir Singh told The Hindu that there was a sense of anger and disappointment against the present regime and the people were looking for a political alternative to seek relief from the price rise, and unemployment.
The protest comes weeks after farmers and tribals on their way to Mumbai from the Nashik district of Maharashtra called off their long march after an assurance from the government to fulfill their demands.
The farmers had started on foot from Dindori town, located around 195 km away from Mumbai, on March 12, demanding relief of Rs 600 per quintal to onion growers hit by price crash, twelve-hour uninterrupted power supply to farmers, and waiver of farm loans.
The protesters called off their march after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said onion cultivators would be given a financial relief of Rs 350 a quintal.
Shinde also said a Cabinet sub-committee would be set up to monitor appeals and claims related to the demand for forest land up to four hectares in possession of cultivators.