NEW DELHI, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from five opposition parties in India Wednesday called on President Ram Nath Kovind to seek repeal of recently passed three farm laws that have brought thousands of farmers on roads in and around the capital city of New Delhi.
The delegation comprised of Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader T K S Elangovan and Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja.
"We met the President and informed him of our view regarding the three farm laws. We have asked for their repeal," Gandhi told reporters after meeting the President.
Gandhi told media the way the farm laws were passed in parliament was an insult to farmers and that is why they were protesting in the cold weather.
Wednesday marks the 14th straight day of farmers' protests in the country.
"We told President that the three farm laws were passed undemocratically in parliament and have sought the repeal of these laws," Yechury said.
The opposition delegation was limited to only five members in line with the COVID-19 protocol.
NCP leader Pawar said various political parties requested the farm laws to be repealed as they were not discussed with either stakeholders or in the select committee of parliament.
Thousands of farmers are staging massive protests on roads leading to the capital city, demanding immediate unconditional revocation of the three farm laws passed by the federal government in September.
Farmers and opposition parties alleged the new laws will deprive the farmers of guaranteed minimum price for their produce and leave them at the mercy of corporates. However, the government has been strongly defending the laws, something that has failed to convince farmers.
Several rounds of talks between the protesting farmers and the government have remained inconclusive and failed to end the stalemate.
The protesting farmers Wednesday rejected the federal government's proposals and threatened to intensify their strike by blocking roads leading to the capital city. Enditem