Sonia vows to fight for farmers

Bhiwani, March 21: Taking the offensive against the Modi government over the farmers issue to Haryana, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday vowed to “fight” for their interests and asked the BJP-ruled states to ensure timely compensation for those affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorm.

Seeking to strike an emotional chord with distressed farmers during a visit to the affected areas of Haryana, she termed them as annadata and emphasised on the need to work unitedly for providing them succour.

“Farmers are our annadata (the one who feeds). Today, all of us are sad since our annadata are aggrieved. Looking at the plight of farmers, I think it is the responsibility of all of us that we should unitedly work to provide them succour,” she said.

Her visit comes amid increased focus of the party on farmers’ issues and its strident opposition to the NDA government’s controversial land bill which has brought Opposition parties on one platform.

“It is obvious that the governments (Centre and state) have the main responsibility. We are not in government either in Haryana or the Centre. Still, we will strongly fight to get you proper compensation and relief. We are fighting for you even today and we will fight for you even in future like we had done earlier,” she told farmers in Rathanthal village in Rohtak.

Earlier, the Congress chief started her day-long visit to the state from Bhadra village of Bhiwani district and sought to remind the state government of its “responsibility”.

“What do they (farmers) want? They just want relief. I appeal to the government to give right and timely compensation to these farmers,” she said.