Farmers march: Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal join protest in Delhi, attacks PM Modi over farm distress

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday joined Kisan march in Delhi after farmers protesting over loan waiver, better MSP were stopped near Parliament. Around 35,000 farmers from across the country have converged near Parliament Street Police station in the national capital, where several leaders addressed the protesters.

Joining farmers at the protest site, Mr Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the current government has given nothing to farmers except empty promises. 

"Modi ji had promised MSP will be increased, PM promised bonus, but look at the situation right now, empty speeches are being given and nothing else," the Congress chief said. 

"If the loans of industrialists can be waived off, then the debt of farmers must be waived off as well. I assure the farmers of India, we are with you, don't feel afraid. Aapki shakti ne is desh ko banaya hai (Your strength has made this country)," he added. 

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal also joined the protest and warned Modi government against farmers' anger. 

"Five months are left, I demand that the Central Govt implement Swaminathan report," he said. 

"Warna 2019 mein ye kisaan qayamat dha denge (Be warned, these farmers will bring hell to you in 2019)," he added. 

Earlier, the farmers, who have been camping at the Ramlila ground here since Thursday, began their march to Parliament Street around 10.30 am amid heavy policy deployment.

They were stopped near Parliament Street police station, after which they assembled there.

Addressing the rally of farmers, Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar alleged the government from the "very beginning has been adopting pro-corporate policies and not a single major initiative for farmers has been launched by it".

"The target of the BJP



government is to handover farmers', adivasis' land to industrialists, corporate," Patkar claimed.

Rajaram Singh, general secretary of All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM), alleged the government tried to "turn blackmoney into white" through demonetisation.

"Demonetisation's impact falls on farmers across the country," he said, adding that the exercise to suddenly render a bulk of Indian currency in circulation hit farmers, who deal largely in cash, hard and contributed to the agrarian distress.

Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav said his party has always worked to strengthen the farmers' movement for better price for their produce.

"We have always been there to support your protests earlier and will continue to do so," he said, adding that farmers should not be undermined and they have the power to "topple the government".

Atul Anjaan, national secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, alleged that the "apathetic attitude" of the Narendra Modi government towards farmers has led to the distress in the agriculture sector and the situation is worsening.

The farmers, who have been camping at the Ramlila ground in Delhi since Thursday, began their march to Parliament Street around 10.30 am amid heavy policy deployment.

Farmers from different parts of the country, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh converged at the Ramlila ground on Thursday.

Banded under the AIKSCC, which claims to be an umbrella body of 207 organisations of farmers and agricultural workers, many farmers arrived in the city on Thursday, on trains, buses and other modes of transport.

The AIKSCC was formed under the aegis of All India Kisan Sabha and other Left-affiliated farmers' bodies in June, 2017, following protests by farmers in states such as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for debt relief and remunerative prices.