Sharad Pawar Warns Centre To Take Back Farm Laws As Massive Crowd Turns Up in Mumbai’s Farmers Rally

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Monday addressed the farmers' protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan and warned Centre to take back the contentious farm laws.

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Monday addressed the farmers’ protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan and warned Centre to take back the contentious farm laws.

“Those in power do not care for farmers,” said Sharad Pawar.

“The laws were passed using the majority in parliament, but the farmers have the power to pull your government down. The laws are an attempt to uproot farmers. But the farmers have the power to uproot rulers,” he attacked the Centre.

Several political leaders, including Pawar and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, Bhai Jagtap, Jitendra Awhad and Jayant Patil joined the agitation as thousands of farmers from across Maharashtra reached Mumbai to participate in a rally in the state capital. However, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray did not join the protest.

Earlier today, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale alleged that the protests were being held only for “publicity”. He noted that the Supreme Court recently stayed the implementation of the three new farm laws, and the Centre has also proposed to suspend the legislation for two years.

Meanwhile, farmers said they will be marching towards the Raj Bhavan to protest in solidarity with agitating farmers at borders.