Protest against govt's policies

Scores of people who came from different states of the country today staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar here in protest against several issues, including food security, right to employment and education.
Prominent social activists including Aruna Roy, Medha Patkar, intellectuals and economists led the protestors, who raised their demands under the slogan of "Abki Bari Humara Adhikar."
Aruna Roy, social activist, said "Given the numerous ways in which the rights of the most marginal people is being attacked, rolled back, diluted and in many ways trivialized without due process of consultation, we are all here to first and foremost demand the right to be heard, engaged with and conferred on any policy decision that impact lives of ordinary people."

Speaking on the issue of Right to Information, social activist Nikhl Dey asked "Why has there been no appointment of Information Commissioners in many states and clearly this inaction cannot be explained or justified as part of the economy measured of the new government."
Accusing the Center of reducing the ambit of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, CPI leader D Raja said, "BJP-led central government is against the poor people. This government is going to reduce the ambit of MGNREGA following which lakhs of people will be affected. The government, which is acting on the behest of corporate sectors, is also trying to amend the Land Acquisition Act."

Talking about the issue of Land Acquisition Act, social activist Medha Patkar said that several people are getting low wages, but government was not taking care of poor people.
Among the political leaders who participated in the protest were Al Anwar (JDU), D Raja (CPI), Saugata Roy (TMC), Mani Shankar Aiyer (Congress) and Prashant Bhushan (AAP).
Protestors also carried out a rally from Ambedkar Stadium to Jantar Mantar under the banner "Abki Bari Humara Adhikar.