Tamil Nadu farmers protest in Delhi with skulls, bones

Around 200 farmers from Tamil Nadu protested at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Tuesday against the central government over the issue of crop prices and the interlinking of rivers. The protesters carried skulls and bones, allegedly of farmers who have committed suicide.

The farmers alleged that while the central government had promised to double income in agriculture, the prices of crops have not been increased.

"During the 2019 elections, the PM had announced that he would double the profits of crops and interlink the rivers,” said Ayyakannu, president of the National South Indian River Interlinking Farmers Association, speaking to India Today.

The protesters also asserted that if the government does not listen to their demands, they will go to Varanasi to contest Lok Sabha elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"If the government does not listen to us, we will go to Varanasi and contest elections against PM Modi," the farmers said. They also stated that they have protested for their demands before, adding, "We are not against the PM or have any connection with any political party. We just want his help,” said Ayyakannu.

Farmers alleged that they were not allowed to protest earlier, but later obtained permission from the court to demonstrate.

“We are living in a democratic country and we have the right to protest, but the police stopped us," said the farmer leader.

The farmers from Tamil Nadu held multiple similar protests in the past at Jantar Mantar.

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