World’s most bizarre protest? Now, man in Modi mask whips TN farmers at Jantar Mantar | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
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World’s most bizarre protest? Now, man in Modi mask whips TN farmers at Jantar Mantar

Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi
Apr 30, 2017 09:02 AM IST

Farmers from Tamil Nadu have been holding a shocking protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for 37 days. Unable to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they organised flogging at the protest site where a man dressed as the PM could be seen whipping them.

For over a month now, Delhi has been witnessing a bizarre protest at Jantar Mantar. The protesters, who are farmers from Tamil Nadu, have used strategies never heard before — from wearing skulls, eating mice, conducting mock funerals to even stripping at Raisina Hill. Adding to their eyeball popping agitation this week, a man dressed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flogged the farmers with a whip.

Tamil Nadu farmers stage a protest where they can been seen whipped by a man dressed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO)
Tamil Nadu farmers stage a protest where they can been seen whipped by a man dressed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO)

The farmers said the idea was to show Centre’s ‘insensitivity’ to their plights. “By ignoring us, it is like Modi is whipping us and trying to beat us out of Delhi… Sometimes I think if we get arrested it might be better. Jail would be better than this,” said P Ayyakkannu, the state president of the National South-Indian Rivers Linking Farmers’ Association. At the outset, 25 farmers had volunteered to participate in the flogging, but soon after it began 23 of them backed out. One protester even reportedly fainted because of the pain. Prakash, who carried out the flogging wore one of the popular Modi masks and was dressed in the PM’s trademark jacket and kurta.

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A protester bites on to a mouse to depict loss of livelihood due to drought. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT PHOTO)
A protester bites on to a mouse to depict loss of livelihood due to drought. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT PHOTO)

These farmers have been in Delhi for 37 days now and are in no mood to leave. Their protest is aimed at getting a relief package from the Centre and having their loans waved off as their crops were ruined in a severe drought and a subsequent cyclone. Their loans from cooperative banks have already been written off, under orders of the state government and the Madras High Court. They have also asked for revised drought packages, that would allow them to buy seeds for the next harvest cycle and also compensate their losses.

Protesters use skulls and noose to depict suicides by their fellow farmers. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT FILE)
Protesters use skulls and noose to depict suicides by their fellow farmers. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT FILE)

With he mercury going up in the Capital, the protests have also become more taxing. Ayyakkannu shows us the blisters on his thighs from the heat. “We are sleeping on hot tar while the PM sleeps in an air conditioned room…,” said Palanichamy, a farmer who has been at Jantar Mantar since the beginning of the protests.

The farmers claim that they have not been able to meet the Prime Minister. “This is how they are treating farmers; like slaves,” said Prakash, who used to work in marketing for rice products in Tamil Nadu, before coming over to join the farmers at Jantar Mantar.

Protesters strip outside South Block after being unable to meet the President with their demands. (HT FILE)
Protesters strip outside South Block after being unable to meet the President with their demands. (HT FILE)

The farmers have, though, met many political leaders, including finance minister Arun Jaitley, water resource minister Uma Bharti, home minister Rajnath Singh and agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh. However, Modi seems to be the one they want to meet. “Modiji, Modiji. Jantar Mantar aaoji,” rings across the protest grounds.

Meanwhile, they are not short of bizarre protest ideas yet. The next in line, is a literally ‘deranged’ act where they will try to showcase the impact of their current state. By wearing torn clothes and acting unstable they will depict how they have “lost their minds” in this long battle at Jantar Mantar.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Mariyam is a correspondent with the Hindustan Times’ Delhi team. She covers stories related to weather, pollution, and education.

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