Dec. 1 (UPI) — A sea of farmers stormed Parliament Street in New Delhi with a list of demands, prompting one government official to call for the ousting of India’s prime minister.
The two-day Kisan Mukti March drew thousands of farmers to the Indian capital seeking debt relief and better prices for crops.
Several within the government were quick to offer support for the rally.
“Farmers [are] not seeking gift from [the government] on farm loan, they are asking what’s due to them,” Congress President Rahul Gandhi said.
Farmers also want lower prices for diesel fuel and fertilizers and blamed the government for years of hardships. Many farmers have killed themselves over the ordeal, represented by many female protesters carrying pictures of their dead family members around their necks as they marched. Others carried skulls or other bones.
“We all are with you. Be it changing laws or changing the Prime Minister, we will do everything that is required to ensure your loans are waived,” Gandhi said. “If any government insults the farmers, then it has to be uprooted and that is going to happen.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned the ruling BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action.
“[The] Modi [government] should implement Swaminathan panel report soon, otherwise farmers will wreck havoc in 2019 polls,” Kejriwal said.
The All India Sangharsh Coordination Committee said it’s one of the largest congregations of farmers in the capital in recent times. Police have deployed 3,500 personnel in the area.
