New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) A group of 200 farmers reached the Jantar Mantar amid multi-layer security on Thursday to launch their agitation against the three Central farms laws in the heart of the national capital.
On Wednesday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal gave permission to the Jantar Mantar demonstration on the condition that a maximum of 200 protesters will be allowed till August 9 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
On the first day of the 'Kisan Sansad', the protesting farmers held discussions on the Mandi Act, rollback of the three farm laws, besides demanding that MPs should discuss the farmers' issues during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament.
The Kisan Sansad was divided into three sessions with each having a separate topic.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said, "Today we have issued a whip to all the MPs to raise the issue of farm laws in the Parliament. If they don't raise our issues, the farmers will protest against them in their respective parliamentary constitutes."
He said the farmers have gathered at the Jantar Mantar to run a parallel 'Sansad', because the farm issues are not being discussed in the Parliament.
Several non-BJP MPs, especially from the southern part of the counrtry, came to show their solidarity with the agitating farmers, echoing their demand to repeal the three farm laws.
"We have come here to make our voice more strong. The people of this country are aware of what the farmers have gone through in the past few months," Tikait added.
On Sunil Jakhar's own defeat from Gurdaspur, which he cited as his reason for quitting, the Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief was not to blame for the loss.
Police in Pune registered a complaint against Dhananjay Kudtarkar, a resident of the Maharashtra city, after a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena officer-bearer flagged the post.
Member of Parliament and outgoing Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to protest the demolition of centuries-old Guru Nanak Palace in Pakistan's Punjab province.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat remarks in Udaipur implying a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has brought up the issue in the public eye yet again, though the dispute is pending in the Supreme Court.
Bhagwat made the comments during his visit to Udaipur on Sunday for a "mandir pran pratishtha" programme in Pratap Gaurav Kendra, where he was accompanied by spiritual leader Morari Bapu.
