Five Opposition leaders on Wednesday met President Ram Nath Kovind over the ongoing farmers' protests over new farm laws. The delegation includes Rahul Gandhi from INC, Sharad Pawar from NCP, Sitaram Yechury from CPI(M), D Raja from CPI and TKS Elangovan from DMK.
While interacting with the media after the meeting, Sitaram Yechury from CPI-M said,"We have given a memorandum to the President. We are asking to repeal agriculture laws and electricity amendment bill that were passed in anti-democratic manner without proper discussions and consultations"
Meanwhile Rahul Gandhi from Congress said,"We informed the President that it is absolutely critical that these anti-farmer laws are taken back"
NCP chief Sharad Pawar after the meeting with President Kovind over farm laws said, "In this cold, the farmers are on the streets protesting peacefully, expressing their unhappiness. It is the duty of the government to resolve this issue"
He further said, there was a request from all opposition parties for in-depth discussion of farm bills & that it should be sent to select committee, but unfortunately, no suggestion was accepted & bills were passed in hurry.
Hundreds of farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital since November 26. Farmer unions on Friday decided to intensify their agitation against the farm laws calling for 'Bharat Bandh' on Dec 8 stating that they were not satisfied with amendments to the agricultural legislations being proposed by the government.