Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that had Prime Minister Narendra Modi established dialogue with the farmers who were protesting against the new agriculture laws, "733 lives" would have been saved.
He was speaking at a corner meeting at Bhastan village in Maharashtra's Buldhana district during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Speaking at the end of the day's march, he paid tributes to the farmers who lost their lives while protesting against the farm laws which were withdrawn by the Union government on this day last year.
The Congress observed November 19 as Kisan Vijay Diwas (Farmers' Victory Day).
"Farmers are the voice of this nation. The agriculture laws were anti- farmer and hence they launched an agitation on the outskirts of Delhi, but the Modi government ignored their demands," Mr Gandhi said.
The laws were meant to help a few industrialists, he alleged.
"The government has police, weapons, administration, and the farmers had only their voice. Due to the arrogance of this government, 733 farmers lost their lives during the agitation," the Congress leader said.
When his speech ended and those present at the meeting stood up to pay homage to the farmers who died, some unidentified persons burst firecrackers nearby.
Annoyed, Mr Gandhi said from the stage that those who burst firecrackers had insulted the entire farming community of the country.
The Yatra halted at Bhendval in Jalgaon-Jamod taluka of Buldhana district on Saturday night.
The Congress on Saturday also marked the 105th birth anniversary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi by organising a special 'padyatra' for women along with the Bharat Jodo Yatra which proceeded from Shegaon to Jalamb in the district.
The special march comprised women functionaries of the party and members of self help groups (SHGs), all of whom wore colourful outfits.
Donning a nine-yard saree, Nafisa Siraj, a Congress office-bearer from Nagpur, said, "Hindus and Muslims are not different. By wearing this saree, I wanted to show Maharashtra's culture and tradition."
Mr Gandhi's cross-country Bharat Jodo Yatra commenced from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Vinesh Phogat Arrives In Delhi After Paris Olympics Heartbreak, Security Tightened
'INDIA' Is with You Against "Injustice": Rahul Gandhi To Arvind Kejriwal Person In Constitutional Post Trying To Destroy Economy: Jagdeep Dhankhar Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Doctors Halt OPD Services Amid Nationwide Strike Over Kolkata Rape Horror BHU Undergraduate Admission Round 1 Seat Allotment Result To Be Out Today US Teen Robs Convenience Store, Then Kills Man Of Indian Origin On CCTV, Stray Dog Goes On Biting Spree In UP, 17 People Attacked In 1 Hour Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.