Tens of thousands of farmers, some walking barechested in the winter cold and others carrying skulls of loved ones who committed suicide, marched towards parliament in New Delhi to demand loan waivers and better prices for their produce. The protest paved the way for many opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Nationalist Congress Party and the Left, to come together on a single stage at Jantar Mantar. In his address, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said India currently faces two challenges: the bleak future of its farmers and unemployment of its youth. He said that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi could forgive the debt of 15 industrialists, he is duty-bound to do so for farmers too. "The farmers only seek what they are owed, but all they get are empty speeches," Mr Gandhi added. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, for his part, termed the centre's flagship insurance scheme for farmers as just another ploy to fleece them. This was the first time Mr Kejr