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.
The three women officers said the police department is working towards ensuring that women can walk freely on Delhi roads, irrespective of which hour of the day they are stepping out.
The AAP's Punjab unit leaders, led by state president Bhagwant Mann, have been holding parleys with leaders of the recently formed Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) but both sides have not been able to announce a formal alliance so far.
With Punjab government employees on strike in support of their demands, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday promised employees that his government would implement the decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers on Employees' Issues in letter and spirit.
Islamabad also said it is shuttering institutions that belong to Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), a designated terrorist group that is an alias for Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Mumbai-born tycoons David and Simon Reuben on Thursday emerged as the second richest on a new list of Britain's Tax Haven Elite, who declare in company filings that they are usually resident in low-tax jurisdictions around the world.
New gold plated door for Sabarimala: The existing door of the sanctum sanctorum, which has developed tiny cracks, would be replaced on the night of March 11.
