Congress to take land law protests to States

To make maximum political gain out of the Government’s decision not to re-promulgate the Land Acquisition Ordinance, the Congress held a victory rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. Thousands of farmers from various States and leaders of the Congress, including chief ministers and state unit presidents, participated in the rally.

The Congress leadership has said the States ruled by the party is not going to bring any law that will change the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. The leaders warned of taking the protests to States if the BJP tries to change the law in States ruled by it. The Opposition party asked farmers to be careful about the BJP’s attempts to change the law in States.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi said the protest is to protect the dignity of farmers. “Land is like their mother to the farmers. Modi is taking away the mothers of farmers,” he said. He added that Modi never speaks his mind.

“He hasn’t said he will bring the Congress law back. He says that the BJP will bring a new law in the States. That means we will have to continue the protests not just in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, but in the States too. Farmers all over the country are in distress. This fight is to protect their dignity,” he said.

He said the “Make in India” programme should be renamed as “Take from India”. “Make in India is not for peasants and workers. They have no space it. It is for a few followers of Modi. We will fight for the rights of workers and peasants,” he said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi too lashed out at the Prime Minister. She said Modi did not take the agitations seriously. “He had to pay a price for that. This is not a victory of any individual. It’s the victory of the farmers of this country,” she said.

She reiterated that the protests will now shift to the States. “Modi wants States to take your land away,” she said. The Congress President said the living conditions of farmers had worsened since Modi came to power. “They do not get water, power, fertilisers and pesticides properly. Inflation has touched the skies. Women are facing it difficult to run houses. Modi government is the only reason for this distress,” she said.

“What is your policy for farmers? Modi has enough time for foreign visits, but not for the farmers. He has made a number of promises. But he got power, he’s not fulfilling them. He cut down allocations for women welfare, education, and employment generation. Modi has closed his ears and eyes,” she said added that she feels sympathy for Modi when he blames Congress for his failures.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said the Congress had the support of a number of parties in the protest against the land law.

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