Rashtriya Loktantrik Party leader and member of parliament from Nagaur, Hanuman Beniwal began a demonstration march towards Delhi protesting against the farm laws on Saturday, as per an ANI report.

Beniwal who supported the December 8 farmers bandh also said, “Thousands of farmers will meet in Kothputli & then decide the further course of action. The government should work to raise the MSP & also listen to farmers.”

Beniwal’s RLP, a member of the National Democratic Alliance of the BJP, had threatened to quit the coalition for the respect of farmers.

Beniwal had earlier said, “I had sent the Home Minister and Prime Minister a message on Twitter that they should listen to farmers.” 

“If agitation isn’t looked into in time, it will spread across the country. I am ready to leave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and MP post, if needed, for the respect of farmers,” he added.

The ‘Delhi Chalo’ farmers’ protests entered its 17th day on Saturday. 

The farmers, agitating against the three new farm laws passed by the government in September, intend to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway on Saturday, farmer leaders had stated on Wednesday while rejecting Centre’s proposal. 

Farmer leaders have also announced their decision to stage a sit-in protest outside the headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and in front of houses of BJP leaders on December 14. 

After protesting farmers announced that they will block the highway on Saturday, nearly 3,500 police personnel have been deployed at the five toll plazas in Faridabad, Haryana and anti-riot equipment have also been deployed. 

Demanding the withdrawal of three farm laws, which the farmers call ‘anti-farmer’ and ‘pro-corporate,’ farmers from across India have been protesting since November 26. 

Also Read: Watch | Vehicles ply without paying toll tax as protesting farmers close toll plaza in Karnal

Several opposition parties have also expressed their support for the protesting farmers. The government however has remained steadfast on their belief of the laws being beneficial to the farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the new agricultural reforms a watershed moment in the history of the country, adding that the reforms were necessary.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has requested farmers to quit the protests and has urged them to come to the discussion table.