PM Modi talks about democracy, but forgets farmers, says Rahul

New Delhi: Ahead of a ‘victory rally’ planned by the party over its land Bill agitation, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he talks about democracy but “forgets” about the farmers and labourers who make up its foundation.

“Modi-ji talks about democracy but does not talk about our farmers and labourers, who run this democracy. He forgets them,” Gandhi told a group of farmers from northern India at 10, Janpath.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, too, was present for the interaction.

The programme was organised by Youth Congress to “celebrate the victory” of farmers after the government was “forced” to let the land Ordinance lapse in the face of vociferous protests by opposition parties, including, prominently, the Congress.

“This is the victory of Congress. But it is the victory of farmers as well,” said Rahul.

Youth Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Brar said around 400 farmers from states like Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh met the Congress president and the vice president to express their solidarity over the issue.

Congress is holding a Kisan Mazdoor Samman Rally at the Ramlila Ground in New Delhi on 19 September to greet farmers and party workers after it “forced the government” to not go for a renewal of the “draconian” land ordinance.

In the run-up to the rally, Congress youth wing activists today gathered outside 10, Janpath, and party headquarters 24, Akbar Road, to celebrate what they termed was their success at having “compelled the BJP-led government to go back to UPA’s land law”.

PTI