Pravash Pradhan
Post News Network
New Delhi, April 18: About 200 farmers and Congress workers from Orissa have reached the capital to participate in the massive farmers’ rally at Ramlila maidan here Sunday and protest against the Centre’s land acquisition bill.
“We have come here to protest Modi government’s anti-farmer land bill. A large number of farmers are coming from Delhi and adjoining states. We are here also to support Rahul Gandhi who is always fighting for the downtrodden and farmers. We demand withdrawal of the Land Ordinance and amendments in the bill,” said Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan.
“Orissa will adversely be affected by the Centre’s land bill. We will take this fight to various districts and highlight the false propaganda of the Modi government,” said Bhakta Charan Das, senior Congress leader.
Ahead of the reconvening of the Parliament session, Congress has organised the farmers’ rally to harden its stand against the land acquisition bill. The party has pulled all stops to show its strength by mobilising farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryan, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Delhi.
Rahul Gandhi, who made his public appearance for the first time after his 57-day sabbatical has met several farmer groups on the eve of the rally in the National Capital.
To galvanise support against the land bill through social media, the party has also launched a website www.zameenwapsi.com to highlight lapses in the proposed bill and reach out to the farmers.
“It’s like a one-stop window. If one wants to know land acquisition acts in our country, he will get all details and accurate information,” said senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
‘‘The rally will provide a chance for Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to showcase his leadership acumen. It will define the future of Congress politics in the country,’’ said another Congress leader on condition of anonymity.
