New Delhi: Tens of thousands of farmers converged in the national capital on Thursday for a two-day protest, including a march to Parliament to press their demands, that includes debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.
The farmers are also demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss issues relating to agrarian distress across the country.
The farmers arrived in Delhi from all parts of the country, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. They marched to Ramlila Maidan on Thursday from four corners of the city — the Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin and Bijwasan railway stations and Sabzi Mandi.
Under the banner of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), which claims to be an umbrella body of 207 organisations of farmers and agricultural workers, many farmers came in trains and others packed into buses and other modes of transport.
A senior farmers’ leader said the marchers would gather at Ramlila Maidan where a crowd of about one lakh was expected.
The marchers included around 1,200 members of the National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturalists Association carrying skulls of two of their colleagues who had committed suicide.
The group from Tamil Nadu threatened to march naked if they are not allowed to proceed to Parliament on Friday.
Last year, the group had staged protests at Jantar Mantar with the skulls of eight farmers who killed themselves due to farm losses.
