Indian farmers protest against PM Modi with skulls and bones

NEW DELHI: A group of farmers from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu held a protest in New Delhi on Tuesday (April 23), over demands for increased prices of crop produce and loan waivers.

They gathered at the ancient observatory site of Jantar Mantar, and held skulls and bones in their mouths and hands.

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They said hundreds of thousands of debt-ridden farmers have committed suicide in the region and that human skulls were a representation of the dead growers.

The farmers said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet to fulfil his promise of doubling the price of their crop produce.

Farmer Ayyakannu said, “We have a right to come and agitate for our rights. During the election only, political parties think farmers are the backbone of India, after the elections they think that we are the slaves of India. So, now we have decided, we are contacting farmers from all over India, they will come tomorrow (April 24).”

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The state of Tamil Nadu has been grappling with issues relating to drought and water shortages for some time.

Earlier this year, farmers from the states of Punjab and Haryana took to streets leading to New Delhi, demanding higher guaranteed prices for their produce.