Making his first public appearance after his nearly two-month long absence, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday declared that he will oppose the Land Acquisition Bill tooth and nail and make the government pay heed to the demands for its withdrawal.
Holding two interactive sessions with farmers and their representatives from various states at his residence a day before the party’s Kisan rally here, the Congress Vice President told them that he and his party will fight a “decisive battle” on farmers’ issues including the NDA’s Land Acquisition Bill, according to party leaders.
Farmer leaders said that Gandhi asked them what were their views on the new land law brought by the Modi government, how much damage has happened to their crop due to unseasonal rain and hailstorm recently and what is the rate at which the government is purchasing their produce.
Some of the farmers, who took part in the first 50-minute interaction with him, rued that people who had no understanding of grassroot issues and knowledge of agriculture are engaged in drafting policies for them, be it the present BJP-led government or the earlier Congress-led government at the Centre.
Sources in the party said that Rahul has decided to speak in entirety on the issue at the Kisan rally on Sunday and he could also intervene on it in the Lok Sabha as the second part of the Budget session begins on Monday.
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Feature image source: Reuters