Opposition in Bihar, Tamil Nadu stage protests against farm laws

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu and Bihar on Saturday staged demonstrations against the Centre’s new farm laws, in their respective states.

While Bihar witnessed assembly election only last month, Tamil Nadu is eyeing state polls next year and thus trying to make this an election issue.

Led by its leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which emerged as the largest party in the assembly in the October-November elections, held a demonstration at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on Saturday. Yadav demanded the Centre to repeal the “black laws”.

“Those who worship Godse have come to Patna. In his welcome, the compassionate Chief Minister Nitish Kumar imprisoned the Gandhi idol at Gandhi Maidan in Patna so that those who believe in Gandhi cannot take a pledge before Gandhiji in support of the farmers. Mr. Nitish, I am reaching there. Stop me if you can,” read a translation of his tweet in Hindi earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district, opposition DMK’s president MK Stalin held a protest rally against the recent farm reforms.

“We went to the court against the laws. Kerala and Punjab have already approached court. Our chief minister (Edappadi Palaniswami) says he’s a farmer first. Why has he not taken any step?” asked Stalin targetting the ruling AIADMK government.

Similar protests were also held in several other districts of the state against the new laws.

In Tamil Nadu, state elections are due in a few more months, and DMK and AIADMK are set to lead the two major Dravidian camps supported by national parties and smaller allies.