Journalism of Courage
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday and said the government’s climbdown on the land acquisition bill was a “victory for the Congress”.
“Modiji talks about democracy but does not talk about our farmers and labourers, who run this democracy. He forgets them,” Rahul told a group of farmers who had gathered at 10, Janpath. Congress president Sonia Gandhi was also present.
Referring to the government having to take a step back on the land acquisition bill, Rahul said, “This is the victory of Congress. But it is the victory of farmers as well.”
Days earlier, the Congress Working Committee, in its political resolution, had congratulated Rahul for the “determined and resolute opposition to the draconian” land acquisition ordinance. Sonia, in her speech, had also said the credit for compelling the government to withdraw the ordinance goes to “every worker of the Congress who, under Rahul’s active guidance, carried out sustained agitation”.
On Saturday, the Youth Congress collected farmers from neighbouring states and brought them to 10, Janpath to showcase the party’s victory. The party is also organising a massive “kisaan mazdoor samman rally” on September 20 with the same aim.
Youth Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Brar said the 400-odd farmers had come from states such as Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. He said Rahul had promised that he will ensure the land acquisition was in favour of farmers.
“He fulfilled his promise and ensured that the NDA government does not succeed in bringing any changes in it… the farmers who came to greet him recognise this,” Brar said.
The government had re-promulgated the contentious ordinance twice, but finally allowed it to lapse on August 31 this year in the face of stiff opposition from the Congress as well as other opposition parties, its allies and even some Sangh-affiliated bodies.
