It’s not only about land, it’s about dignity of farmers too: Rahul Gandhi at Kisan Samman Rally

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday sought to highlight the emotional connect between farmers and their land by terming land as their “second mother”. He said his party’s fight was not only about land, but also about the dignity of those dependent on agriculture for survival.

Referring to his conversation with farmers in the past, Gandhi said, “Farmers have two mothers – one who gives birth and protects the child and the second is land. They use their blood and sweat for cultivation of crops. I’m told by the farmers that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been trying to snatch away not only their land, but their mothers too. This is not a fight for land for these farmers, but a fight of dignity.”

He was speaking at his party’s mega farmers’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital. Senior Congress leaders including party president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were present. The Congress has dubbed the rally as ‘Victory rally for land acquisition bill’.

A similar rally was organized by the party at the same venue exactly five months ago on 20 April where Rahul Gandhi after his sabbatical made his first public address to the farmers opposing the contentious land acquisition bill introduced by the Modi government. Five months and three ordinances down the line, the said bill has finally been allowed to lapse.

“Modiji had promised that if he wins he would bring an end to the Congress initiated Land Act. Thrice the land ordinance was promulgated in the House, but finally the PM had been compelled to roll back his version of the bill. This is a victory of the Congress, the victory of the farmers of India,” said Gandhi.

The Ramlila Maidan, that has witnessed several mega rallies in the past ranging from farmers’ issues to anti-corruption, was found on Sunday with people in large number wearing red and pink turbans and white topis, gathered to listen to Congress leaders.

The Congress vice president alleged that Modi-government failed to keep its promises made to farmers like increasing minimum support price (MSP) by 50%, or compensating to hail storm-hit farmers, etc.

“Modi ji never listens to farmers, labourers or the unemployed, but only to bureaucrats, corporate and experts. In every state farmers are in distress. I appeal the PM to understand the problems of farmers, listen to them and give them handholding support. Or else, you’ll get to see the Congress and its flags questioning you,” Gandhi concluded

Unlike in the last rally, this time people at Ramlila ground got to hear Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.

“Five months back we were here opposing the NDA’s land acquisition ordinance. Finally, Modi ji failed to get it through. Today farmers are not getting their due and it’s the middlemen who are making merry. The Modi government dumped the welfare schemes initiated by the UPA government and cut down the budgetary allocation for health, education and social sectors. It’s the UPA government that waived farmers’ loans. The farmers’ financial conditions have worsened under Modi-led government,’’ said Sonia Gandhi.

Though the Congress claimed that it was the efforts of the Congress that “forced the NDA government to dump its land ordinance”, the common man was found divided in its opinion.

“Rahul Gandhi is trying to connect with the farmers using emotional dialogues but it’s not going to work. Can he explain why so many farmers had committed suicide during the ten-year long UPA regime? Where was he then?” questioned Kripal Singh Saini, a Haryana-based farmer who came with a group to listen to Rahul Gandhi.

He added, “Moreover, it’s a politically-sponsored rally. You can make out from the headgears (turbans). These were provided by the Congress local units to the farmers to be a part of the rally.”

But, a Congress leader was quick to refute the allegation.

“It’s not true. The large gathering of farmers here is an indication of their anger and frustration with the government. We only asked our local units to inform the farmers and the farmers’ bodies about today’s rally in Delhi and coordinate with them. Had the farmers not wanted, we couldn’t have forced them to join us. All have come voluntarily to be a part of Rahul ji’s rally," a Congress leader told Firstpost.

Mahesh Jadav, a farmer from the outskirts of Delhi said, “It’s true that due to the constant protest and pressure built by the Congress, the Modi-government was forced to dump the land acquisition bill. But, Rahul Gandhi has to lead from front on every issue, like he did in the case of farmers.”