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Massive turnout at rally cheers Cong

Within a year of its humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on Sunday put up a show of strength, opposing the “draconian” land acquisition law being “thrust” upon farmers by the Narendra Modi-led government.

Plunging into the heat and dust of politics after his mysterious sabbatical, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi attacked the prime minister for “robbing farmers” of their land to repay “huge loans” taken from industrialists to fund his election campaign. “This is the Gujarat model of development,” he said.

Referring to the 2011 agitation that culminated in the passage of UPA’s land bill in 2013, and his stir in the Niyamgiri hills in Odisha to oppose acquisition of tribal land, Rahul launched a strong attack on the Modi government for promulgating an ordinance to ease the land acquisition laws.

“Today, farmers and the labourers feel the government has forgotten them. Today, when a farmer goes to bed, he does not know what will happen to his land the next day. He is living in fear,” said Rahul. The massive turnout for the “Kisaan, Khet Mazdoor Rally” brought cheer to many a Congress leader.

The mobilisation of farmers for the rally on the eve of the resumption of the Budget session of Parliament could be a cause for worry for the Modi government, which is determined to go ahead with its economic reform agenda.

“You have strengthened our resolve by turning up in such huge numbers. We have gathered here to send a strong message to the government,” said Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a fiery speech virtually eclipsing Rahul’s much-hyped comeback address.

The rally was the Congress’ attempt to regain momentum and put the government on the back foot by latching onto the distress of farmers due to crop damage caused by unseasonal rain.

“I want to tell Modi, enough is enough. The country’s farmers and labourers have seen through his empty promises. The behaviour of the government is clearly anti-farmer, anti-labourer and anti-poor. We will never allow these forces to succeed. We may be out of power, but we will never be found wanting in our efforts to fight for the cause of farmers,” said Sonia.

The rally also saw senior leaders exhorting 44-year-old Rahul to take up the leadership role in the anti-land bill agitation. “You were instrumental in enacting the land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation law. Now, when that law is under attack, you have to tour extensively and assume a leadership role,” said AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh.

Among the dozen-odd leaders who spoke at the rally, only former defence minister A K Antony made an oblique reference to Rahul’s sabbatical. “Rahul has come back with new energy and vigour. He will lead the movement further,” he said.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh described Rahul as the “heartthrob of the youth”. “The Congress has always fought for farmers’ rights, and under Soniaji and Rahulji’s leadership, we will fight the anti-farmer forces with all our strength,” he said. Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states and top party leaders attended the rally.