Delhi: Tamil Nadu farmers climb towers, protest with 'human skulls'
What's the story
Around 200 farmers from Tamil Nadu have gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to express their concerns over stagnant crop prices and the need for river interlinking.
To press for their demands, some farmers climbed trees and mobile towers.
Some even carried human skulls and bones, claiming they belonged to fellow farmers who committed suicide due to the awful circumstances they faced.
Protest demands
Farmers demand two-fold increase in crop prices, monthly pension
The farmers are demanding a two-fold increase in crop prices, a monthly pension of ₹5,000 for farmers, individual insurance and the interlinking of all rivers.
These demands were voiced during the protest as they expressed disappointment over unfulfilled promises by the central government to double agricultural income.
"Around 50 people have come for interlinking of rivers. Two of them tried climbing a mobile tower but they returned to the ground," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla said.
Twitter Post
Check out the video of protest here
#WATCH | Delhi: Tamil Nadu farmers were brought down from the mobile tower after a few of them climbed up while protesting for their various demands. pic.twitter.com/sPoumKx0DB
— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024
Election challenge
Will contest elections against PM Modi if demands not met
The protesters warned that if their demands are not met, they will take their fight to Varanasi and contest elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
They clarified that their protest is not against any political party or individual but a plea for help for their cause.
The protesters were eventually removed by the police, who used a fire brigade crane to lower the farmers from the mobile tower.