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.
Poonam Sinha, wife of actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, will be contesting against Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh from the Lucknow parliamentary constituency.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjinder Singh Sirsa rejected the charges and alleged "political conspiracy" behind the move.
Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and two others injured Thursday in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Kanker district.
The Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party have resumed talks to discuss the seat-sharing formula for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital, sources said on Thursday.
Uttam Nagar, West Delhi: "Aslam mistook police officials, dressed in lungi-kurta (Mewati attire), as members of a new gang and spoke to them, disclosing his name and address," said a police official.
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: "The dismal performance of his government shows PM Narendra Modi has no vision and only television," Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi told reporters.
