New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today protested outside Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's official residence today, in solidarity with those farmers who have been protesting against the central government's recently introduced agricultural laws.
The protest by Congress, which has backed the farmers all this while, is part of its "Speak Up For Kisan Adhikar" campaign. The Congress is observing Kisan Adhikar Divas (Farmer Rights Day) today and all state units have been asked to congregate around all Raj Bhavans in the states.
"BJP goverment will have to withdraw the farm laws. The Congress will not relent till these laws are repealed. These laws are not to help farmers, but to finish them," Mr Gandhi said leading the protest outside Raj Niwas.
"The Narendra Modi government earlier tried to take away the land of farmers, when it brought the land acquisition Act and the Congress party stopped them at that time. Now the BJP and their two-three friends are once again attacking the farmers and have brought these three farm laws," he alleged.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have been camped in and around Delhi in decrepit conditions for the past many weeks. They have been protesting against three recently-passed farm laws perceived to be harmful to them. Farmer representatives are today meeting government officials to discuss ways to break the deadlock.
"The 'annadata' of the country are doing Satyagraha against their arrogant Modi government for their rights. Today, entire India is raising its voice against the atrocities on farmers and rising prices of petrol and diesel. You too join and become a part of this Satyagraha. #SpeakUpForKisanAdhikar," tweeted Mr Gandhi ahead of the today's march to Raj Niwas.
On January 9, a virtual meeting of Congress leaders decided to go aggressive against the Centre and will "hit the ground" over the farm laws.
The three contentious laws are Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Following the protest before Raj Niwas, the Congress leaders moves to Jantar Mantar to continue with the protest. "Prime Minister Modi doesn't respect farmers and wants to tire out those protesting against Centre's agriculture laws," Mr Gandhi said there, according to PTI.
During the March, party leader Alka Lamba sustained a minor injury on her hand as it brushed against some barbed wires laid down by the police.