Modi wants to tire out those protesting against agri laws: Rahul Gandhi
■ ‘Modi wants to tire out those protesting against agri laws’
New Delhi, Jan. 15: Rahul Gandhi led the Congress’ protest in the national capital in support of agitating farmers on Friday and said the opposition party will not relent till the three new farm laws are repealed.
He was accompanied by AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Delhi Congress leaders at the protest outside the lieutenant-governor’s residence here as part of the party’s countrywide agitation.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Gandhi said the Congress will not step back till the government repeals the three new farm laws. “These laws are not to help farmers, but to finish them. These laws are aimed at helping corporates like Ambani and Adani instead. That is why we are standing in support of the farmers,” he said.
“The Narendra Modi government tried to take away the land of farmers earlier, when it brought the Land Acquisition Act, and the Congress had stopped it at that time. Now, the BJP and its twothree friends are once again attacking the farmers and have brought these farm laws,” he said.
Rahul and Priyanka later joined Congress MPs and leaders from Punjab at Jantar Mantar, where they have been sitting on a “dharna” against the farm laws for 41 days.
“Prime Minister Modi does not respect farmers and wants to tire out those protesting against the Centre’s agriculture laws,” Mr Gandhi said.
The Congress took out protest marches at all state capitals in the country and gheraoed Raj Bhavans on Friday. It also protested against the rising fuel prices.
The Opposition party observed the day as “Kisan Adhikar Diwas”. A statement issued by the Congress said the “Kisan Adhikar Diwas” was observed under the aegis of the PCCs as “annadatas” (food-givers) are being misled and subjected to pointless filibuster by the government.
AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal said water cannons were used against party workers in Chandigarh while they were trying to gherao the Punjab Raj Bhavan.
The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president and other leaders were arrested and detained by police when they were trying to march towards the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow
Simultaneous protests were staged in 28 states and Union territories, including Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, Mr Venugopal said.