New Delhi: Several farmers affiliated to All India Kisan Congress gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Friday, demanding legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and compensation for the kin of farmers who were killed in last year's agitation against the Centre's three farm laws.
According to news agency PTI, the farmers unit also accused the Centre of reneging on its promises based on which the year-long stir was called off.
Speaking to PTI, Hargobind Singh Tiwar, joint coordinator of AIKC, said, "Central government is neither cooperating with the farmers nor addressing their issues. It's been over a year since the anti-farm laws protest ended, but the government's promise of ensuring MSP for farmers has not been fulfilled yet."
"The centre should immediately release the compensation for the families of farmers who sacrificed their lives while fighting for their rights. It is unfortunate that the centre does not even have the list of those farmers who lost their lives. How will they even release the compensation?" he said.
Holding Congress flags and raising slogans of "jai jawan, jai kisan", the farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and some southern states gathered at Jantar Mantar.
Addressing the protesters, Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala criticised the Central government for failing to fulfil the promises it has made to the farmers last year.
"It is because of the anti-farmer approach of the Modi government. This is one of the reasons why they find it difficult to implement MSP," he said, adding, “This protest should not be limited to Jantar Mantar. We should take it forward and fight for the rights of farmers, who feed the nation.”
We have come here to protest against the Modi government and its anti-farmers policies. Farmers are being suppressed under this regime. We have gathered here for our rights. We believe that farmers should get their due rights." Kailash Yadav, who has come from Jaipur, said.