Rahul Gandhi addressing rally at Pehowa. Pic by Jasbir MalhiCongress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is in Haryana to protest against new farm laws, said absence of mandis, according to the new farm laws, will only increase unemployment. “Lakhs of people work at the Mandis. Where will those people working at the Mandis go if mandis are closed,” said Gandhi addressing a rally in Pehowa
Gandhi’s tractor rally “Kheti Bachao Yatra” to campaign was stopped briefly outside Haryana this afternoon by dozens of policemen. Ambala IGP Y Puran Kumar said a conditional permission has been granted to the Congress leader’s rally, where a gathering of not more than 100 people will be allowed. Gandhi is set to address key rallies in Pehowa and Pipli areas of Kurukshetra district, in Haryana.
Earlier today, addressing a presser at Circuit house in Patiala, Gandhi said that the Congress manifesto aimed at developing the agriculture system and improving its infrastructure. This would have included developing markets for farmers and putting a mandi in every 4 kms. “We never wanted the destruction of the entire food security system, which is exactly what the Narendra Modi government has done,” Gandhi added.
He highlighted that the farm bills will end up destroying the existing structures of food and security for the farmers. Attacking the Centre, Rahul said that the laws introduced by the Modi government “is an attack on our farmers”.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened outside the house of deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala in Sirsa following a protest called by two dozen farmer organisations seeking their resignation from the Manohar Lal Khattar government.
In other news, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Tuesday tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Sidhu had shared a stage with Rahul Gandhi during tractor rally at Sangrur on October 5.
Protesting against the new farm laws, farmers sit at the Railway station in Jalandhar for an indefinite period as part of their rail roko agitation in Punjab on Thursday. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh )
Rahul Gandhi begins addressing farmers at Kurukshetra. Continuing he attack on the Modi government, he said: " You (Modi govtermnet) can't end the system when you can improve the system. Ending the system will kill our farmers."
After performing worship at Jyotisar, a very important pilgrimage site of Kurukshetra, Rahul Gandhi to address a public meeting at Thanesar (Kurukshetra) shortly
Closing down Mandis will only increase unemplyment: Lakhs of people work at the Mandis. "Where will those people working at the Mandis go if mandis are closed," says Rahul Gandhi.
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: " Modi said he is giving freedom to farmers by bringing in the farm bills but then why are farmers on road protesting, why didn't his government allow a debate on the bills in Parliament."
Rahul Gandhi begins addressing public meeting at Pehowa anaj mandi, says the Narendra Modi goverment has done nothing for the famers in the past six years.
Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU Ekta-Ugrahan) protest against the three farm bills and Corporate houses in Sangrur .Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh
Rahul Gandhi reaches Pehowa anaj mandi. He will address a public meeting at the mandi, shortly.
After winding up his last rally at Sanaur in Patiala, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi drove a tractor to reach Haryana border on the concluding day of his "Kheti Bachao Yatra". He was accompanied on the tractor state Congress chief Kumari Selja, senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda. A number of Congress workers were accompanying Gandhi from Punjab's Patiala district, but the procession was stopped on the highway near Teokar village on Pehowa border for an hour.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has entered Haryana, as part of his Kheti Bachao tractor rally. Gandhi will be addressing rallies in Pehowa and Pipli areas of Kurukshetra district, in Haryana.
Congress leader rahul gandhi, along with other leaders and his supporters try to cross the Punjab-Haryana Border during the Kheti Bachao tractor rally near kyukar Village of Pehowa.
A gherao was conducted by the farmers at Harnaya Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Singh's residence in Sirsa. Farmers and police have entered into a clash. Police fired tear gas to disperse the aditated mob. Security has been beefed up at the Singh's residence.
Express Photo by Manoj Dhaka
Rahul Gandhi, who will be rallying in Haryana for the rest of the day was given permission to enter the state on a condition that not more than 100 people can gather at a time. Ambala IGP Y Puran Kumar said: "The permission for entry of Rahul Gandhi is conditional. More than 100 persons won't be allowed at a point of time. Covid restrictions have to be followed. The organizers have accepted the conditions."
In other news, Punjab health minister Balbir Sidhu has tested positive for Coronavirus. On Monday, he had shared stage with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to address public meetings at Pehowa and at Pipli in Kurukshetra district. Pipli is the same place where the protesting farmers were lathicharged on September 10.
Senior Congress leaders including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress President Kumari Selja, Kiran Choudhry, Kuldeep Bishnoi have reached the Haryana border to welcome Rahul Gandhi. The police have installed Nakas at least at half a dozen points to regulate the traffic.
The Modi government has forcibly taken control of all the key institutions, Rahul alleged, while addressing a press conference in Patiala on the third and final day of his Kheti Bachao Yatra in Punjab. The BJP government has captured the soul of the country, he claimed. Read more
Whatever happens in Punjab directly and indirectly affects the Sikh and Punjabi diaspora communities around the world. Naturally, the ongoing farmers’ protest too has found an echo in the sentiments of Punjabis living in the UK, where numerous rallies and virtual events are being organised to stand with farmers in distress.
That there is a huge emotional support for the cause of Punjabi farmers is evident from an impressive turnout at the ‘Kisaan Rally’ held late Sunday afternoon in Southall. Despite incessant rain, Covid restrictions and a police fine of £10,000, the streets of Southall filled up with hundreds of people and a large number of farm and luxury vehicles. “I attended the rally to express solidarity with our brothers in Punjab who have left the comfort of their homes to protest against the recent farm laws,” says Mohinder Kaur, an elderly woman who had braved the weather to join the protest. (Read full story here)
Security has been beefed up in Haryana's Sirsa where farmers in large numbers have gathered. Several 'nakas' have been set up in the city to ensure there is no traffic disruption. Yogender Yadav, a member of the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee was also present at the protest site. See Photos by Manoj Dhaka below.
Congress's Kheti Bachao Yatra on its third day will reach Haryana and due to this, several congressmen have gathered at the Punjab-Haryana border. Troops are deployed in great numbers waiting for the arrival of Rahul Gandhi along with Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh. Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda was present at the Punjab border to oversee the arrangements for today's yatra. (Inputs from Sukhbhir Siwach)
Making Congress’s stance clear on the issue, Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress manifesto aimed at developing the agriculture system and improving its infrastructure. This would have included developing markets for farmers and putting a mandi in every 4 kms. “We never wanted the destruction of the entire food security system, which is exactly what the Narendra Modi government has done,” Gandhi added.
Rahul Gandhi said that not only farmers, but consumers will also suffer losses due to the changes brought by the introduction of the three farm bills.
If farmers are getting benefits, as the centre is claiming, why was there no discussion in the parliament for the same. Rahul Gandhi once again criticised the timing of passing these bills, which according to him has resulted in repressing the voices of opposition.
Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at the centre for its handling of the coronavirus crisis and highlighted that the small and medium business, which are the backbone of India's economy suffered endlessing during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Rahul Gandhi responding to a question about his visit to the Hathras village recently said, "I wanted the victim's family to know that they are not alone, we are there for them."
Gandhi also criticised PM Modi for not speaking up against the incident. "The entire family was targeted by the Uttar Pradesh administration, but our PM didn't say a word on the issue."
Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said that the farm bills aim at destroying the existing structure of food and security for the farmers. Attacking the Centre, Rahul said that the laws introduced by the Modi government "is an attack on our farmers".
Congress's 3 day long Kheti Bachao Yatra is set to reach Haryana today. The third day will commence with Rahul Gandhi addressing a presser at Circuit house in Patiala.
To recognise that a lot of agricultural trade takes place outside APMCs is sensible. To think that all that happens under good conditions is silly. To know that arhtiyas are important in Indian agricultural markets is sensible. To know that they are a part of the supply chain in the north-west part of the country is also important. However, arhtiyas cannot dare to take on the FCI and the mai baap sarkar. Moreover, such arrangements do not work in other parts of the country. At the same time, to say that e-markets and farmer-managed companies — the last as designed by a committee I chaired at the beginning of this century — are the way ahead is correct but to suggest that they are dominant rural organisations today, two decades later, is childish. (Read more here)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was finishing "farmers and labourers" with the three farms laws just as he had "destroyed" small shopkeepers with demonetisation and GST.
During a rally in Punjab's Samana city, Rahul Gandhi said: "Like he (Modi) finished small shopkeepers and small-medium businesses with GST (Goods and Services Tax) and demonetisation, he is finishing farmers and labourers the same way and slashing your throats with these three laws."
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Monday ridiculed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a "VIP kisan" after photographs showed him sitting on a cushioned seat on a tractor during his party's protest rally in Punjab against the Centre's new farm laws.
Gandhi is holding a series of tractor rallies named 'Kheti Bachao Yatra' across the Congress-ruled northern state to protest against the three farm laws being seen as major reforms in the agriculture sector.
"He is someone who uses a sofa to sit on a tractor. A VIP kisan like him can never support a system which is meant to free small and marginal farmers from the clutches of middlemen," Irani, said here. (PTI)
"I have no problem but law and order shouldn't be disrupted. If he will come with a procession from Punjab, that will not be allowed. He can do rally with the people here," Haryana CM ML Khattar said on Monday.
"They passed the three black farm Bills amid Covid-19. What was the haste to do it at this time? They did it because they thought the farmers won't be able to do anything, but they don't know the power of a farmer," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by ANI during the during party's 'Kisan Bachao Rally' in Sangrur Punjab.
The Haryana government has decided that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s tractor rally will not be stopped from entering the state on October 6. The Congress is scheduled to hold tractor rallies in Kurukshetra and Karnal on October 6 and 7.
“We have decided that Rahul Gandhi’s tractor rally will not be stopped from entering Haryana. We don’t want any law and order issues to be unnecessarily created causing a breach of peace and harmony in the State. However, no violation of law and order shall be tolerated”, a senior Haryana government officer told The Indian Express. Click here to read the full report.
While addressing a gathering in Punjab's Sangrur, Rahul Gandhi said that he accepted there were loopholes in systems including mandis, PDS, and MSP. "We accept that there are loopholes in the system involving mandis, PDS & MSP, and it needs to be strengthened. But Narendra Modi is not doing anything to improve that system. He's destroying that system... With farm bills, he's killing farmers," Gandhi said.
"For the last six years, the Narendra Modi government has been attacking the poor, labourers, farmers every single time. Not a single policy is introduced to benefit the poor people. All of these policies benefit their 3-4 chosen friends," Rahul Gandhi said in Sangrur.
While addressing a gathering at Sangrur's Barnala Chowk, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh appealed to Rahul Gandhi to scrap the farm laws once he becomes the prime minister. "The law is made. The bills have been passed in the Parliament. But who says that an amendment cannot be made to those laws. I request Rahul ji to scrap these black laws when he becomes the PM with a majority in the Lok Sabha," Singh said in the presence of the former Congress chief.
While slamming the centre over farm bills, Rahul Gandhi said Congress will not back off from protesting against these bills. "Every farmer will come on road to fight against these bills and against your party. Congress party stands with all the farmers and will always support them."
Rahul Gandhi, while slamming the centre over the farm bills, says, "What was the need to bring these bills at the time of coronavirus pandemic? Because Narendra Modi thinks that if such bills are introduced at the time of coronavirus, the farmers will be unable to come out of their houses and protest against them."
Rahul Gandhi reached Barnala chowk in Sangrur on Day 2 of the party's three-day Kisan Bachao Yatra, on Monday. He was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, party's state chief Sunil Jakhar and party leader Harish Rawat.
After Punjab, Rahul Gandhi will visit Haryana on October 6 and 7 to hold tractor rallies against the recently enacted farm laws even as Home Minister Anil Vij softened his stance on the Congress leader’s entry into state. Gandhi will hold the rallies in Kurukshetra and Karnal districts of the state, party leaders said. After this, Rahul Gandhi will go to Kurukshetra and halt there for the night. His journey will start from Pipli Mandi next morning from where he will proceed to Nilokheri and after that he will go to Karnal, where the tractor rally will culminate,” she said.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said, “We have not received any intimation about his (Rahul’s) programme so far.” The remarks came after Vij earlier said the Congress leader’s tractor rally will not be given permission to enter the state. However, on Sunday, Vij said, “We are a democratic state”. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Karnal, the CM hailed the three farm laws as a “game changer”. “Farmers are going to benefit in a big way,” he said. Read more here
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's 'rail roko' agitation in Punjab's Amritsar, against Farm laws, enters 12th day. A farmer says, "Political parties are doing political stunt. If they had to do something, they should have done it in Parliament."
Asked about Rahul Gandhi’s “Adani Ambani ki sarkar” remark, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma on Sunday said the Congress leader’s comment reflected a lack of knowledge about farmers’ issues.“He has just come here to gain some political mileage and is not well-versed with the ground issues. Congress itself made promises regarding opening up markets for farmers in its manifestos in 2014 and 2019… BJP has gone one step forward and delivered more,” said Sharma.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said Gandhi had come for political tourism. “He should tell the farmers of Punjab why the Congress government in Punjab has not delivered on its promise of waiving off Rs 90,000 crore worth of farm loans."
The NDA government is a puppet in the hands of some corporates, Rahul Gandhi said on Sunday, and promised to repeal the three “black” farm laws when the Congress returns to power at the Centre. Gandhi, who kick-started the ruling Congress’s three-day Kisan Bachao Yatra from Badhni Kalan in Moga with a tractor rally, said with the new farm laws, the Modi government was trying to destroy the three pillars of agriculture – minimum support price (MSP), assured foodgrain procurement and mandis.
“It is the farmers of Punjab and Haryana who give food security to our country. MSP, foodgrain procurement and mandis- are the three pillars of our system. Modi government is hellbent on destroying and finishing this system because till this system is alive, Modi’s friends won’t be able to take away land and money of “But the Congress will not allow this to happen, we stand firmly behind you. We will not back down an inch,” Gandhi said.
“Yes, there are flaws in the current system but the solution is not to end it. If current system ends, nothing will be left for farmers and they will be on roads. Main aapko guarantee de raha hu jis din Congress party ki sarkaar aayegi, uss din hum inn teen kaaley kanuno ko radd karke, khatam kar denge (I promise that the day Congress forms the government, we will scrap these three black laws)," he added. Read more here
Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s two public rallies in Sangrur, the administration has banned the use of drone cameras in the district from Sunday to Tuesday (Oct 4-6). Deputy Commissioner Ramvir in his order stated that drones are being used in Sangrur without seeking prior permission, which can cause law and order problems.
Former AICC president Rahul Gandhi will be addressing two rallies in Sangrur on October 5, before moving to Patiala the same day. For one he will be on a trolley — a symbol of farming in fields — near Barnala Kanchian on the Sangrur bypass. He will then move to Bhawanigarh for another rally, where a larger gathering is expected. Finally, he will participate in a tractor rally from Bhawanigarh to Samana in Patiala alongwith over 4,000 tractors of Sangrur district. Read more here
Former AICC president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Punjab for participating in a tractor rally and efforts of general secretary incharge Harish Rawat to ensure former Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s presence at the party show, could not bridge the gap between him and the Punjab Congress. While Sidhu appeared at the party’s show, wearing a maroon salwar-kurta and a black turban, and was given a special treatment at the behest of the party high command, neither the state Congress leaders nor Sidhu exhibited any softness towards each other.
Camping in Chandigarh and Punjab for last many day, Rawat paid special attention to Sidhu, called him “future” of the state Congress, went to Amritsar to meet him two days ago and went to the extent of coming to Moga along with him after having breakfast at his residence on Sunday. The party high command did not stop here. Rawat ensured that he was given time to speak and was the first speaker at the Badhani Kalan rally from where Rahul kick-started his three-day programme. He was made to sit in the front row while the Cabinet ministers sat in the second row in the public rally. Except Sukhjinder Randhawa, who was the incharge of the rally and was conducting the stage, no other Cabinet minister was allowed to speak. Read more here
From the heart of the protests against the three contentious farm laws in Punjab’s Moga, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack against the Narendra Modi government and asserted that the legislations would be revoked if Congress was voted to power.
Addressing a public meeting in Badhni Kalan in Punjab’s Moga district before leading a tractor rally, which has been named ‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’, Gandhi wondered what was the “hurry” and need to implement these laws amid Covid-19 pandemic.
“My guarantee to all farmers that the day Congress forms government, we will revoke the three laws. The prime minister says the laws are being framed for farmers. If the laws are being made for farmers, then why didn’t you debate in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?” Gandhi asked. Read more here
Union Minister V Muraleedharan on Sunday slammed the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his protests against the Centre's new farm laws and accused him of being "disconnected" from reality and indulging in 'publicity stunts.' Addressing the media, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, alleged that the Congress, which championed reforms in the agriculture sectorand included it in their manifesto has now gone back on its word. "The party is resorting to violence and vandalism out offrustration of losing relevance in Indian politics," he claimed.
Keeping in view the farmers’ agitation in Punjab against farm bills, Northern Railways said on Sunday that some trains will be cancelled, short terminated or diverted.
Short termination
1. Train No. 02903 Mumbai Central- Amritsar express journey commencing on 03/10/2020 will be short terminated at Ambala. Consequently Train No. 02904 Amritsar- Mumbai Central express journey commencing on 05/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala-Amritsar-Ambala.
2. Train No. 02925 Bandra- Amritsar express journey commencing on 04/10/2020 will be short terminated at Ambala. Consequently Train No. 02926 Amritsar- Bandra Terminus express journey commencing on 06/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala –Amritsar-Ambala.
3. Train No. 02715 Nanded –Amritsar express journey commencing on 04/10/2020 will be short terminated at New Delhi. Consequently Train No. 02716 Amritsar- Nanded express journey commencing on 06/10/2020 will short originate from New Delhi and it will remain partially cancelled between New Delhi-Amritsar-New Delhi.
4. Train No. 03307 Dhanbad- Ferzpur express journey commencing on 03/10/2020 will be short terminated at Ambala. Consequently the Train No. 03308 Ferzpur-Dhanbad express journey commencing on 05/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala-Firozpur-Ambala.
5. Train No. 04649 Jaynagar –Amritsar express journey commencing on 04/10/2020 will be short terminate at Ambala. Consequently Train No. 04650 Amritsar-Jaynagar express journey commencing on 05/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala-Amritsar-Ambala.
6. Train No. 2057 New Delhi-Una Himachal express journey commencing on 05/10/2020 will be short terminate at Ambala. Consequently, the Train No. 02058 UnaHimachal-NewDelhi express journey commencing on 06/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala-UnaHimachal-Ambala.
Diversion of trains
Train No. 05909 Dibrugarh –Lalgarh express journey commencing on 03/10/2020 will be diverted to run via Rohtak –Bhiwani –Hisar –Hanumangarh
Several trains have been cancelled due to farmers' agitation in Punjab.
Yogendra Yadav, who too has announced a sit-in in front of Haryana's deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala's residence in Sirsa, Sunday said that 17 farmer organisations will be joining him on October 6 and all of them will camp outside Dushyant Chautala's residence seeking his reply on their questions.
“If Dushyant has no answer to farmers' queries, he must resign. People did not have much hopes in BJP, but they voted in bulk for JJP in 2019 Haryana Vidhan Sabha polls because Dushyant is Chaudhary Devi Lal's heir. Farmers thought that Dushyant will firmly stand by their side. Today, when farmer is already in distress, he is not getting the MSP for his crop. Now the government has begun attacking the farmer in the garb of these three farm-laws. And amid all this, Dushyant Chautala is glued to his ministership”, Yogendra Yadav said.
Yadav challenged Chautala that if he does not have answers to these questions, Dushyant must resign immediately.
1. Did you or your party raise any objections or modifications in the three farm laws?
2. Did BJP seek your party's opinion before mooting these three bills or afterward?
3. Did these three laws have any relation with Coronavirus or lockdown? If not, then why these three bills were mooted during lockdown?
4. Do you support the manner in which the three bills were passed in Rajya Sabha without voting?
5. If there is no threat to MSP with these three laws, then why can't MSP be included in these?
6. How will the farmer be benefited under the amendments introduced in Essential Commodities Act? Have we given a clear right to companies to rob both consumers and farmers?
7. By allowing companies to make purchase outside mandis (without any tax) and imposing tax for procurement in mandis, isn't it an agenda to abolish mandi system?
8. Making a farmer sign contracts with companies even before the crop is ready for harvest – won't it be like farmers signing their willingness to be looted? Will the farmer get a rightful share from the companies?
9. Dushyant ji, you are consistently saying that crop will be procured on MSP across Haryana. Why haven't such an official direction/ law been issued in writing? Even today, crop is not being procured on MSP in front of your eyes, yet why are you silent? Why are you sticking to your ministerial berth?
10. When no farmer organisation or farmers' leader is ready to speak in favour of these farm laws, then why is Chaudhary Devi Lal's heir is standing as a shield of these laws?
After commencing his tractor rally from Punjab, in protest against the three farm laws, Rahul Gandhi will be in Haryana for two days – October 6 and 7.
Party's senior leaders including HPCC chief Kumari Selja, Leader of opposition and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, party's affairs incharge Vivek Bansal, former CLP leader Kiran Choudhry, former cabinet minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav and various MLAs and former MPs of Haryana Congress held a meeting to formalise Rahul Gandhi's two day programme across Haryana. The meeting was held in New Delhi.
“The three farm-laws are totally contrary to welfare of farmers. That is the main reason Rahul Gandhi is coming to Haryana to be among the farmers and support their cause. This is a deaf and dumb and insensitive government. Rahul Gandhi has commenced his tractor rally in Punjab. He shall come to Haryana for two days on October 6 and 7. On October 6, Rahul Gandhi will enter Haryana from Devinagar border (Ambala) and lead the tractor rally to Pehowa. He shall first address the gathering at Pehowa and then move towards Kurukshetra. He will spend the night in Kurukshetra. On the morning of October 7, Rahul Gandhi will begin the tractor rally from Pipli anaj mandi and go to Nilokheri from where the rally will move towards Karnal. The tractor rally will conclude in Karnal on October 7 evening”. (With inputs from Varinder Bhatia)
Haryana Pradesh Congress committee president, Kumari Selja said, “Rahul Gandhi had been consistently raising the issues pertaining to welfare of farmers, workers and common people. He feels the pain of farmers. He will enter Haryana, for sure and lead the tractor rally across Kurukshetra and Karnal for two days”.
Haryana's former chief minister and senior Congress leader, Bhupinder Singh Hooda added, “The three farm laws are devastating for the farmers. Rahul Gandhi is coming to Haryana to support farmers, raise their voice and ensure that farmers get justice. Entire farming community is in a state of distress due to these black laws”. (With inputs from ENS)
CM Captain Amarinder Singh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party's state chief Sunil Jakhar and party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu in Chakar reach Ludhiana for the 'Kisan Bachao Rally'. Earlier today, Gandhi arrived in Moga for leading tractor rallies across the state from Sunday till Tuesday in protest against the laws. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, state Congress president Sunil Jakhar, party's Punjab incharge Harish Rawat and other leaders were present.
Punjab MLA and former cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday attended a tractor rally led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to protest against the Centre's new farm laws. Addressing a public gathering here, Sidhu slammed the BJP-led Centre over the farm laws and dubbed them as an "attack on federal structure" and alleged the central government was being run by "capitalists".
"They are robbing our rights," he said, adding that the Centre had imposed a "system" which had failed in Europe and the US.
He said these new legislations would adversely affect five lakh labourers and 30,000 ''arthiyas'' (commission agents). Sidhu said that the Punjab government should give minimum support price (MSP) on pulses and oilseeds and set up an infrastructure for the storage of crops.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Centre on Sunday over the three new agriculture laws, asking why were the farmers agitating if these were meant for them. Addressing a public meeting in Badhni Kalan in Punjab's Moga district, Gandhi asserted that the contentious Acts would be revoked if the Congress was voted to power. He wondered what was the "hurry" and need to implement these legislations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
'Punjab govt should provide storage and other facilities to farmers, take their responsibility and fight for them,' said Navjot Singh Sidhu Sunday as he shared the stage with Captain Amarinder Singh in presence of Rahul Gandhi.
At 'Kheti Bachao Yatra', Rahul Gandhi said Modi government wants to destroy 3 pillars of Indian agriculture.
Addressing the Kisaan Bachao rally at Badhni Kalan in Moga, Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Modi has been lying to the people for the last six years.
“This is a kathputli government whose strings are in the hands of the Adanis and Ambanis. These are the three black laws that have been passed. The Modi Govt wants to destroy the three pillars of Indian agriculture - MSP, foodgrain procurement and Mandis. What was the hurry to bring these laws in the times of Covid 19? Why was there no proper discussion in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?, “ he asked.
“Kisaanon ke paise aur zameen ka maamla hai. Desk ke do teen arabpati kisaanon ki zameen aur paise ki harapna chahte hai,” he thundered as the gathering cheered him on.
The Delhi BJP is set to hold tractor rallies and pujas as part of its campaign to counter the opposition parties escalating attacks on the farm laws that are "misleading the farmers". The campaign aims to reach out to farmers in rural pockets of the national capital.
"Tractor pujas and tractor rallies will be an important part of the campaign to expose how Congress and other parties are misguiding the farmers over the recently passed farm Bills of Modi government," said Delhi BJP general secretary and campaign convener Kuljeet Chahal.
The campaign is set to cover 365 villages up to October 15. (With PTI)
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Sunday said that there is no use of the government’s promises to the farmers as long the farm laws are not amended to make the MSP(Minimum Support Price) compulsory. "As long as the laws passed in the Parliament are not amended to make the MSP compulsory, there is no use of their promises" Singh said speaking at Congress' Kheti Bachao Yatra.
Rahul Gandhi Sunday attacked the centre for implementing the farm laws without any open discussion in the parliament and during a crisis like coronavirus. "What was the need to implement these laws amid #COVID19? What was the haste?" he said while addressing a rally in Moga. "If you had to implement you should've discussed in Lok Sabha-Rajya Sabha. PM says laws are being framed for farmers. If it's the case, why didn't you discuss openly in the House," he added.