Rahul Gandhi drives tractor to Parliament to protest farm laws
Rahul Gandhi today rode to Parliament on a new set of wheels to register his protest against the three agricultural farm laws.
Seated on a shining red tractor, the Congress leader, dressed in shirt and trousers and with a face mask on, rode along confidently in the heart of Delhi, marking his protest.
“I’ve brought farmers’ message to Parliament. They (Government) are suppressing voices of farmers and not letting a discussion take place in Parliament. They’ll have to repeal these black laws. The entire country knows these laws favour 2-3 big businessmen,” the 51-year-old leader was quoted saying by news agency ANI.
“As per government, farmers are very happy and those (protesting farmers) sitting outside are terrorists. But in reality, farmers’ rights are being snatched away,” he added.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting since November at the three Delhi border points seeking repeal of the farm laws and a new law to guarantee minimum support price, or MSP, for crops.
Since the beginning of the monsoon session last week, Parliament has been adjourned several times over, among other things, the farm laws. Some Congress MPs said refused to let the House function until the matter was solved. They protested outside Parliament. The Shiromani Akali Dal also sought a debate.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar maintains the farm laws are beneficial, adding they can be discussed “point-wise” if farmers express the issues.