Rahul Gandhi, other Opposition party leaders join protesting farmers at Jantar Mantar near Parliament

opposition protest jantar mantar farm laws — Image Source : ANI
TMC, BSP, AAP stay away from Rahul Gandhi-led Opposition's protest on farm laws at Jantar Mantar

Opposition parties leaders led by former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday protested at Jantar Mantar near Parliament to express solidarity with protesting farmers against the Centre's new farm laws. Farmers are currently holding 'Kisan Sansad' at the Jantar Mantar near Parliament to press for their demand to repeal the new farm laws.

Those who joined the protest include Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Ambika Soni, Gaurav Gogoi; Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut; RJD's Manoj Jha; DMK's T Siva and others. However, the Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and BSP didn't take part in today's protest.

Opposition leaders raised slogans like "Kala Kanoon Band Karo, Pegasus pe Jaanch Karo" and demanded that the government should annul the farm laws.

Opposition parties have stalled all proceedings in both Houses of Parliament over the Pegasus controversy and the agitating farmers' demand for repeal of three farm laws. The opposition leaders have held several closed-door meetings to set the tone for an anti-BJP front during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha were given special permission to protest at Jantar Mantar during the Monsoon Session. They have been allowed to protest at Jantar Mantar till August 9, but only on weekdays.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. They have alleged that these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced. The government and farmer unions have held 11 rounds of talks so far, the last being on January 22, to break the deadlock and end the protest.

Talks have not resumed following widespread violence during a tractor rally by protesting farmers on January 26. Notably, the Supreme Court has already put on hold the implementation of the laws till further orders and has set up a committee to find solutions, and it has already submitted its report.