Opposition parties ask Centre to provide place to farmers in national capital to protest

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 28

Leaders of eight political parties have jointly asked the Union Government to allocate Ramlila Ground or similar large venue here for farmers to hold their protest against the three farm laws as the ground allotted in Burari was small.

These leaders include NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI(M) head Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja. The other parties’ leaders are CPI(ML), RJD, RSP, AIFB and DMK.

Expressing solidarity with the farmers who have arrived here from other states, mainly Punjab and Haryana, in protest against the three farm laws, the leaders said the farmers’ concerns must be addressed.

“The Central Government was forced to relent and reverse its earlier decision of preventing our kisans from reaching Delhi to peacefully voice their protest and allocated them a place to assemble.”

The ground provided in Burari, however, is too small for the tens of thousands that have reached Delhi. A larger ground must be provided and necessary arrangements must be made for their stay and food, they said.

In a separate move, AAP asked the Union Government to initiate talks with the farmers to address their concerns forthwith.

“The government has already delayed in opening talks with the agitating farmers,” said AAP Haryana in-charge Sushil Gupta.