Rahul Gandhi reaches Barnala chowk in Sangrur on Day 2 of farmers rally. (Express Photo)Punjab, Haryana Farmers Protest Today LIVE updates: While attacking the centre over the farm bills, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that his party will never back off from opposing these bills. “Every farmer will come on road to fight against these bills and against your party. Congress party stands with all the farmers and will always support them,” he said while addressing a gathering in Sangrur’s Barnala chowk.
From the heart of the protests against the three contentious farm laws in Punjab’s Moga, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack against the Narendra Modi government and asserted that the legislations would be revoked if Congress was voted to power. Addressing a public meeting in Badhni Kalan in Punjab’s Moga district before leading a tractor rally, which has been named ‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’, Gandhi wondered what was the “hurry” and need to implement these laws amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Rahul Gandhi further claimed that PM Modi had been lying to the people for the last six years. “This is a kathputli government whose strings are in the hands of the Adanis and Ambanis. These are the three black laws that have been passed. The Modi government wants to destroy the three pillars of Indian agriculture – MSP, food grain procurement and Mandis,” he said.
Protesting against the new farm laws, farmers sit at the Railway station in Jalandhar for an indefinite period as part of their rail roko agitation in Punjab on Thursday. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh )
"They passed the three black farm Bills amid Covid-19. What was the haste to do it at this time? They did it because they thought the farmers won't be able to do anything, but they don't know the power of a farmer," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by ANI during the during party's 'Kisan Bachao Rally' in Sangrur Punjab.
The Haryana government has decided that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s tractor rally will not be stopped from entering the state on October 6. The Congress is scheduled to hold tractor rallies in Kurukshetra and Karnal on October 6 and 7.
“We have decided that Rahul Gandhi’s tractor rally will not be stopped from entering Haryana. We don’t want any law and order issues to be unnecessarily created causing a breach of peace and harmony in the State. However, no violation of law and order shall be tolerated”, a senior Haryana government officer told The Indian Express. Click here to read the full report.
While addressing a gathering in Punjab's Sangrur, Rahul Gandhi said that he accepted there were loopholes in systems including mandis, PDS, and MSP. "We accept that there are loopholes in the system involving mandis, PDS & MSP, and it needs to be strengthened. But Narendra Modi is not doing anything to improve that system. He's destroying that system... With farm bills, he's killing farmers," Gandhi said.
"For the last six years, the Narendra Modi government has been attacking the poor, labourers, farmers every single time. Not a single policy is introduced to benefit the poor people. All of these policies benefit their 3-4 chosen friends," Rahul Gandhi said in Sangrur.
While addressing a gathering at Sangrur's Barnala Chowk, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh appealed to Rahul Gandhi to scrap the farm laws once he becomes the prime minister. "The law is made. The bills have been passed in the Parliament. But who says that an amendment cannot be made to those laws. I request Rahul ji to scrap these black laws when he becomes the PM with a majority in the Lok Sabha," Singh said in the presence of the former Congress chief.
While slamming the centre over farm bills, Rahul Gandhi said Congress will not back off from protesting against these bills. "Every farmer will come on road to fight against these bills and against your party. Congress party stands with all the farmers and will always support them."
Rahul Gandhi, while slamming the centre over the farm bills, says, "What was the need to bring these bills at the time of coronavirus pandemic? Because Narendra Modi thinks that if such bills are introduced at the time of coronavirus, the farmers will be unable to come out of their houses and protest against them."
Rahul Gandhi reached Barnala chowk in Sangrur on Day 2 of the party's three-day Kisan Bachao Yatra, on Monday. He was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, party's state chief Sunil Jakhar and party leader Harish Rawat.
After Punjab, Rahul Gandhi will visit Haryana on October 6 and 7 to hold tractor rallies against the recently enacted farm laws even as Home Minister Anil Vij softened his stance on the Congress leader’s entry into state. Gandhi will hold the rallies in Kurukshetra and Karnal districts of the state, party leaders said. After this, Rahul Gandhi will go to Kurukshetra and halt there for the night. His journey will start from Pipli Mandi next morning from where he will proceed to Nilokheri and after that he will go to Karnal, where the tractor rally will culminate,” she said.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said, “We have not received any intimation about his (Rahul’s) programme so far.” The remarks came after Vij earlier said the Congress leader’s tractor rally will not be given permission to enter the state. However, on Sunday, Vij said, “We are a democratic state”. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Karnal, the CM hailed the three farm laws as a “game changer”. “Farmers are going to benefit in a big way,” he said. Read more here
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's 'rail roko' agitation in Punjab's Amritsar, against Farm laws, enters 12th day. A farmer says, "Political parties are doing political stunt. If they had to do something, they should have done it in Parliament."
Asked about Rahul Gandhi’s “Adani Ambani ki sarkar” remark, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma on Sunday said the Congress leader’s comment reflected a lack of knowledge about farmers’ issues.“He has just come here to gain some political mileage and is not well-versed with the ground issues. Congress itself made promises regarding opening up markets for farmers in its manifestos in 2014 and 2019… BJP has gone one step forward and delivered more,” said Sharma.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said Gandhi had come for political tourism. “He should tell the farmers of Punjab why the Congress government in Punjab has not delivered on its promise of waiving off Rs 90,000 crore worth of farm loans."
The NDA government is a puppet in the hands of some corporates, Rahul Gandhi said on Sunday, and promised to repeal the three “black” farm laws when the Congress returns to power at the Centre. Gandhi, who kick-started the ruling Congress’s three-day Kisan Bachao Yatra from Badhni Kalan in Moga with a tractor rally, said with the new farm laws, the Modi government was trying to destroy the three pillars of agriculture – minimum support price (MSP), assured foodgrain procurement and mandis.
“It is the farmers of Punjab and Haryana who give food security to our country. MSP, foodgrain procurement and mandis- are the three pillars of our system. Modi government is hellbent on destroying and finishing this system because till this system is alive, Modi’s friends won’t be able to take away land and money of “But the Congress will not allow this to happen, we stand firmly behind you. We will not back down an inch,” Gandhi said.
“Yes, there are flaws in the current system but the solution is not to end it. If current system ends, nothing will be left for farmers and they will be on roads. Main aapko guarantee de raha hu jis din Congress party ki sarkaar aayegi, uss din hum inn teen kaaley kanuno ko radd karke, khatam kar denge (I promise that the day Congress forms the government, we will scrap these three black laws)," he added. Read more here
Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s two public rallies in Sangrur, the administration has banned the use of drone cameras in the district from Sunday to Tuesday (Oct 4-6). Deputy Commissioner Ramvir in his order stated that drones are being used in Sangrur without seeking prior permission, which can cause law and order problems.
Former AICC president Rahul Gandhi will be addressing two rallies in Sangrur on October 5, before moving to Patiala the same day. For one he will be on a trolley — a symbol of farming in fields — near Barnala Kanchian on the Sangrur bypass. He will then move to Bhawanigarh for another rally, where a larger gathering is expected. Finally, he will participate in a tractor rally from Bhawanigarh to Samana in Patiala alongwith over 4,000 tractors of Sangrur district. Read more here
Former AICC president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Punjab for participating in a tractor rally and efforts of general secretary incharge Harish Rawat to ensure former Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s presence at the party show, could not bridge the gap between him and the Punjab Congress. While Sidhu appeared at the party’s show, wearing a maroon salwar-kurta and a black turban, and was given a special treatment at the behest of the party high command, neither the state Congress leaders nor Sidhu exhibited any softness towards each other.
Camping in Chandigarh and Punjab for last many day, Rawat paid special attention to Sidhu, called him “future” of the state Congress, went to Amritsar to meet him two days ago and went to the extent of coming to Moga along with him after having breakfast at his residence on Sunday. The party high command did not stop here. Rawat ensured that he was given time to speak and was the first speaker at the Badhani Kalan rally from where Rahul kick-started his three-day programme. He was made to sit in the front row while the Cabinet ministers sat in the second row in the public rally. Except Sukhjinder Randhawa, who was the incharge of the rally and was conducting the stage, no other Cabinet minister was allowed to speak. Read more here
From the heart of the protests against the three contentious farm laws in Punjab’s Moga, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack against the Narendra Modi government and asserted that the legislations would be revoked if Congress was voted to power.
Addressing a public meeting in Badhni Kalan in Punjab’s Moga district before leading a tractor rally, which has been named ‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’, Gandhi wondered what was the “hurry” and need to implement these laws amid Covid-19 pandemic.
“My guarantee to all farmers that the day Congress forms government, we will revoke the three laws. The prime minister says the laws are being framed for farmers. If the laws are being made for farmers, then why didn’t you debate in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?” Gandhi asked. Read more here
Union Minister V Muraleedharan on Sunday slammed the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his protests against the Centre's new farm laws and accused him of being "disconnected" from reality and indulging in 'publicity stunts.' Addressing the media, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, alleged that the Congress, which championed reforms in the agriculture sectorand included it in their manifesto has now gone back on its word. "The party is resorting to violence and vandalism out offrustration of losing relevance in Indian politics," he claimed.
Keeping in view the farmers’ agitation in Punjab against farm bills, Northern Railways said on Sunday that some trains will be cancelled, short terminated or diverted.
Short termination
1. Train No. 02903 Mumbai Central- Amritsar express journey commencing on 03/10/2020 will be short terminated at Ambala. Consequently Train No. 02904 Amritsar- Mumbai Central express journey commencing on 05/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala-Amritsar-Ambala.
2. Train No. 02925 Bandra- Amritsar express journey commencing on 04/10/2020 will be short terminated at Ambala. Consequently Train No. 02926 Amritsar- Bandra Terminus express journey commencing on 06/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala –Amritsar-Ambala.
3. Train No. 02715 Nanded –Amritsar express journey commencing on 04/10/2020 will be short terminated at New Delhi. Consequently Train No. 02716 Amritsar- Nanded express journey commencing on 06/10/2020 will short originate from New Delhi and it will remain partially cancelled between New Delhi-Amritsar-New Delhi.
4. Train No. 03307 Dhanbad- Ferzpur express journey commencing on 03/10/2020 will be short terminated at Ambala. Consequently the Train No. 03308 Ferzpur-Dhanbad express journey commencing on 05/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala-Firozpur-Ambala.
5. Train No. 04649 Jaynagar –Amritsar express journey commencing on 04/10/2020 will be short terminate at Ambala. Consequently Train No. 04650 Amritsar-Jaynagar express journey commencing on 05/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala-Amritsar-Ambala.
6. Train No. 2057 New Delhi-Una Himachal express journey commencing on 05/10/2020 will be short terminate at Ambala. Consequently, the Train No. 02058 UnaHimachal-NewDelhi express journey commencing on 06/10/2020 will short originate from Ambala and it will remain partially cancelled between Ambala-UnaHimachal-Ambala.
Diversion of trains
Train No. 05909 Dibrugarh –Lalgarh express journey commencing on 03/10/2020 will be diverted to run via Rohtak –Bhiwani –Hisar –Hanumangarh
Several trains have been cancelled due to farmers' agitation in Punjab.
Yogendra Yadav, who too has announced a sit-in in front of Haryana's deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala's residence in Sirsa, Sunday said that 17 farmer organisations will be joining him on October 6 and all of them will camp outside Dushyant Chautala's residence seeking his reply on their questions.
“If Dushyant has no answer to farmers' queries, he must resign. People did not have much hopes in BJP, but they voted in bulk for JJP in 2019 Haryana Vidhan Sabha polls because Dushyant is Chaudhary Devi Lal's heir. Farmers thought that Dushyant will firmly stand by their side. Today, when farmer is already in distress, he is not getting the MSP for his crop. Now the government has begun attacking the farmer in the garb of these three farm-laws. And amid all this, Dushyant Chautala is glued to his ministership”, Yogendra Yadav said.
Yadav challenged Chautala that if he does not have answers to these questions, Dushyant must resign immediately.
1. Did you or your party raise any objections or modifications in the three farm laws?
2. Did BJP seek your party's opinion before mooting these three bills or afterward?
3. Did these three laws have any relation with Coronavirus or lockdown? If not, then why these three bills were mooted during lockdown?
4. Do you support the manner in which the three bills were passed in Rajya Sabha without voting?
5. If there is no threat to MSP with these three laws, then why can't MSP be included in these?
6. How will the farmer be benefited under the amendments introduced in Essential Commodities Act? Have we given a clear right to companies to rob both consumers and farmers?
7. By allowing companies to make purchase outside mandis (without any tax) and imposing tax for procurement in mandis, isn't it an agenda to abolish mandi system?
8. Making a farmer sign contracts with companies even before the crop is ready for harvest – won't it be like farmers signing their willingness to be looted? Will the farmer get a rightful share from the companies?
9. Dushyant ji, you are consistently saying that crop will be procured on MSP across Haryana. Why haven't such an official direction/ law been issued in writing? Even today, crop is not being procured on MSP in front of your eyes, yet why are you silent? Why are you sticking to your ministerial berth?
10. When no farmer organisation or farmers' leader is ready to speak in favour of these farm laws, then why is Chaudhary Devi Lal's heir is standing as a shield of these laws?
After commencing his tractor rally from Punjab, in protest against the three farm laws, Rahul Gandhi will be in Haryana for two days – October 6 and 7.
Party's senior leaders including HPCC chief Kumari Selja, Leader of opposition and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, party's affairs incharge Vivek Bansal, former CLP leader Kiran Choudhry, former cabinet minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav and various MLAs and former MPs of Haryana Congress held a meeting to formalise Rahul Gandhi's two day programme across Haryana. The meeting was held in New Delhi.
“The three farm-laws are totally contrary to welfare of farmers. That is the main reason Rahul Gandhi is coming to Haryana to be among the farmers and support their cause. This is a deaf and dumb and insensitive government. Rahul Gandhi has commenced his tractor rally in Punjab. He shall come to Haryana for two days on October 6 and 7. On October 6, Rahul Gandhi will enter Haryana from Devinagar border (Ambala) and lead the tractor rally to Pehowa. He shall first address the gathering at Pehowa and then move towards Kurukshetra. He will spend the night in Kurukshetra. On the morning of October 7, Rahul Gandhi will begin the tractor rally from Pipli anaj mandi and go to Nilokheri from where the rally will move towards Karnal. The tractor rally will conclude in Karnal on October 7 evening”. (With inputs from Varinder Bhatia)
Haryana Pradesh Congress committee president, Kumari Selja said, “Rahul Gandhi had been consistently raising the issues pertaining to welfare of farmers, workers and common people. He feels the pain of farmers. He will enter Haryana, for sure and lead the tractor rally across Kurukshetra and Karnal for two days”.
Haryana's former chief minister and senior Congress leader, Bhupinder Singh Hooda added, “The three farm laws are devastating for the farmers. Rahul Gandhi is coming to Haryana to support farmers, raise their voice and ensure that farmers get justice. Entire farming community is in a state of distress due to these black laws”. (With inputs from ENS)