Farmers protest outside agriculture minister’s house

New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) Around 60 farmers under the banner of Swaraj India party on Monday protested outside the residence of Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh here to remind him of the promises made before the 2014 parliamentary elections.

The protesting farmers raised slogan "Agriculture Minister don't lie, it's time to deliver not deny!" before they were "brutally" evicted and detained at the Mandir Marg Police Station, said Anupam, Swaraj India leader.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised 50 per cent margin on cost of production during his campaign before the Lok Sabha election, while Singh denied any such promise in Parliament, he said.

"At around 1.00 p.m., farmers gathered outside the minister's place, where they displayed on a large screen videos of Modi's and Singh's speeches that were contradicting each other.

"The farmers then started the protest and asked Singh to stop lying and tender an apology. Although the protest was peaceful, police used force and evicted them brutally," Anupam told IANS.

The protestors were later released.

According to Swaraj India, Monday's protest was a trailer of the mega protest to be held near Parliament on November 20 and such small protests will continue through this week.

"We want the government to apologise for its failure to fulfil its election promises. Its wrong polices have put farmers under financial burden. We also want to know the government's plan to provide relief to farmers," Anupam said.

On November 20, farmers from 184 organisations from across the country under the banner of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) will hold "Kisan Mukti Sansad" outside Parliament.

Their primary demands are loan waiver and remunerative prices for all agricultural produce.