New Delhi: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Devegowda on Thursday said that PM Narendra Modi should take care of farmers’ demand and personally look into the matter. Speaking of farmers’ protest at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, the JD(S) leader also appealed to the Union government to try to solve the problem as their voice matter and “no government can survive without farmers”.Also Read - Farmers’ Republic Day Tractor Rally: Delhi Police Issues Traffic Advisory | Routes to Avoid, Other Details Here
Speaking to news agency ANI, the former PM said, “PM should personally take note of this. I would like to appeal to Union Govt to try to solve the problem. Farmers are awakened now. They know how to punish. No govt can survive without farmers.” Also Read - Karnataka Bandh: Police Detain Congress, JD(S) Workers Protesting Against Farm Laws; CM Yediyurappa Says Doors of APMC Still Open
A group of protesting farmers from Tamil Nadu arrived on Thursday for the two-day Kisan rally, carrying skulls of two of their colleagues who had committed suicide. They also threatened to march naked if they were not allowed to go to Parliament on Friday. (Also read: Farmers March to Kolkata in Protest Against Agrarian Crisis) Also Read - Karnataka Crisis: 2 Congress MLAs Resign; BJP to Explore Possibilities to Form New Govt if Coalition Collapses
About 1,200 members of the National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturalists Association reached the national capital in the early hours of Thursday, said their leader P Ayyakannu. They were among the thousands of farmers marching to Ramlila Ground on Thursday and to Parliament Street on Friday, to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.