New Delhi: All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress (AIKKMC) staged a protest at Parliament Street here, Tuesday, against the alleged anti-farmer policies of Central government.
Thousands of activists from across the country, including Odisha Congress Kisan Khet Mazdoor cell took part in the Sansad Gherao rally to press for their demands.
Odisha Congress unit demanded hike in minimum support price (MSP) of paddy, compensation to the farmers for crop loss and loan waiver.
“Over 100 farmers from Odisha reached the national capital here to protest against the anti-farmer policies of the Modi government. This government has cheated the farmers of the country. The claims like rise in MSP, loan waiver and crop insurance for farmers are just eyewash and nothing reached the farmers at the ground. We are here to seek answer from the Prime Minister on the plight of farmers,” said Amiya Kumar Patnaik, president of Odisha Pradesh Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangh.
Another farmer activist from Odisha dubbed the Union government a capitalist government.
“We demand that the government fulfils its pre-poll promises. The government should increase the market price of our produce but they are only concerned about the warehouse owners and industrialists. The government should implement MS Swaminathan Committee recommendations,” said Ramnarayan Biswas Rai, a farmer from Ganjam district of Odisha.
The protest was organised under the leadership of AIKKMC chairman and farmer leader from Maharashtra Nana Patole to highlight the plight of farmers in the country. Senior Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and others took part in the protest rally.