Jagatsinghpur: Social activist and Gandhian leader Anna Hazare on Thursday called upon farmers to launch a massive movement to force the government in Odisha and the Centre to fulfil their legitimate demands.

"There is a need for a second freedom movement for bettering the pathetic condition of the farmers and restoring the true spirit of democracy," he said.

"Under the stewardship of Gandhi ji, India became a free country. But after so many years of Independence, people are yet to attain freedom in true sense," he said, while addressing a state-level farmers' conclave in Jagatsinghpur. He also announced on the occasion that he would shortly launch an agitation across the country to protest against the farmers' plight.

Hazare felt that the farmers would have to take pledge to launch peaceful protests as successive governments in the state and at the centre "did not look at their interests".

"I will move across the country to espouse the cause of the farmers. The poor peasants should get the minimum support price for their yield. The farmers should also be given pension once they attain 60 years of age," he said. Giving the call for "Do or die" and " jail bharo" protests, he said it was high time that the farmers woke up and claimed their rights peacefully.

"The farmers have suffered immensely over the years. No government has paid heed to their plight. The governments in the states and at the Centre continue to adopt a pro-industry stance while formulating policies that have proved detrimental to the interest of the farmers. The farmers are an oppressed lot. Their development is hardly there on the governments' agenda. As a result, 12 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last 22 years. The farmers continue to end life almost every day over crop failure and debt-related issues," he said.