The Narendra Modi government informed Parliament on Wednesday it had no data on deaths of farmers during the protests against the three contentious farm laws, which were officially repealed earlier this week.
Opposition parties and leaders of the farmers' protests had claimed over 700 farmers had died since the protests began in November 2020. The protesters and opposition leaders had demanded that the government grant compensation to the kin of the farmers who died in the agitation.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar was quoted by NDTV as saying, “Ministry of Agriculture has no record in the matter and hence the question [of compensation] does not arise.” He was responding to questions on number of deaths and on whether the government would give compensation to the kin of victims.
The opposition has not relented on the farmers' protest issue despite the repeal of the three laws. On Wednesday, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, raised the issue of deaths of farmers during the agitation. Opposition MPs raised slogans of “We want justice”.
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On Monday, Congress MPs gave notices for adjournment motions in both Houses of Parliament to demand compensation to kin of farmers who lost their lives.
