NEW DELHI: In an unanticipated form of protest, three farmers from Tamil Nadu who had been protesting in Delhi for the last 28 days, on Monday stripped naked and started rolling on Rajpath road at Raisina Hill, near the main entrance to the Prime Minister’s Office.
“A nine-member farmer delegation went to meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submit our memorandum of demands but the PM did not meet us. We were returned from the reception, so disappointed by this we protested” said P. Ayyakannu leader of the protest.
After not being allowed a meeting with the PM, Palanivel aged 59, Ramalingam age 38 and Sarwana Vasudevan age 32 jumped off the vehicle in which they were being taken back to Jantar Mantar and took off their clothes. In the entire 10 minute affair the farmers rolled on the road shouting “save India, save farmers”.
The farmers from the state of Tamil Nadu have been demanding a drought relief package of Rs 40,000 crore, farm loan waiver and setting up of Cauvery Management Board by the Centre.
“Something can only be done the center, the powers of the state are limited in that matter hence we are seeking the intervention of the prime minister. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister should at least push for our meeting with the prime minister” Ayyakannu added further.
Making headlines since they reached the city three weeks ago farmers have tried different means of protest, from using skulls of dead family members to biting on live mice and dead snake to a mock funeral to get the attention of the government.