New Delhi: 

Rahul Gandhi today rode a new set of wheels to Parliament carrying farmers’ message and registering his protest against the three agricultural laws.

Seated at the wheel on a blazing red tractor, Rahul Gandhi, sporting a half-sleeved shirt, trousers and sandals, rode along confidently with a face mask on in the heart of Delhi, marking his protest against the controversial farm laws.

“I’ve brought farmers’ message to Parliament. They (Government) are suppressing voices of farmers and not letting a discussion take place in Parliament. They’ll have to repeal these black laws. The entire country knows these laws favour 2-3 big businessmen,” the 51-year-old leader was quoted saying by news agency ANI.

“As per government, farmers are very happy and those (protesting farmers) sitting outside are terrorists. But in reality, farmers’ rights are being snatched away,” he added.

Mr Gandhi also tweeted that “tractors will run in Parliament” if farmers are forced to sell their land.

The BJP claimed that farmers are being used as a political tool by the opposition.

“Rahul Gandhi is playing politics. Farmers are being used as a political tool. The centre has said if there are issues with the laws it is ready to rework them. They are ready for talks,” said BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting since November at the three Delhi border points seeking repeal of the farm laws and a new law to guarantee minimum support price, or MSP, for crops.

Since the beginning of the monsoon session last week, Parliament has been adjourned several times over, among other things, the farm laws. Some Congress MPs said refused to let the House function until the matter was solved. They protested outside Parliament. The Shiromani Akali Dal also sought a debate.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar maintains the farm laws are beneficial, adding they can be discussed “point-wise” if farmers express the issues.

Several rounds of talks between farmers and the government have failed to break the deadlock over the contentious laws.

On Sunday, while calling the farmers of Jind (Haryana) revolutionaries, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait had hailed the decision of carrying out a tractor parade in protest against the centre’s farm laws on Independence Day.