Rahul Gandhi addressing rally at Pehowa. Pic by Jasbir MalhiPunjab, Haryana Farmers Protest Highlights: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is in Haryana to protest against new farm laws, said absence of mandis, according to the new farm laws, will only increase unemployment. “Lakhs of people work at the Mandis. Where will those people working at the Mandis go if mandis are closed,” said Gandhi addressing a rally in Pehowa
Gandhi’s tractor rally “Kheti Bachao Yatra” to campaign was stopped briefly outside Haryana this afternoon by dozens of policemen. Ambala IGP Y Puran Kumar said a conditional permission has been granted to the Congress leader’s rally, where a gathering of not more than 100 people will be allowed. Gandhi is set to address key rallies in Pehowa and Pipli areas of Kurukshetra district, in Haryana.
Earlier today, addressing a presser at Circuit house in Patiala, Gandhi said that the Congress manifesto aimed at developing the agriculture system and improving its infrastructure. This would have included developing markets for farmers and putting a mandi in every 4 kms. “We never wanted the destruction of the entire food security system, which is exactly what the Narendra Modi government has done,” Gandhi added.
He highlighted that the farm bills will end up destroying the existing structures of food and security for the farmers. Attacking the Centre, Rahul said that the laws introduced by the Modi government “is an attack on our farmers”.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened outside the house of deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala in Sirsa following a protest called by two dozen farmer organisations seeking their resignation from the Manohar Lal Khattar government.
In other news, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Tuesday tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Sidhu had shared a stage with Rahul Gandhi during tractor rally at Sangrur on October 5.
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 )
Rahul Gandhi begins addressing farmers at Kurukshetra. Continuing he attack on the Modi government, he said: " You (Modi govtermnet) can't end the system when you can improve the system. Ending the system will kill our farmers."
After performing worship at Jyotisar, a very important pilgrimage site of Kurukshetra, Rahul Gandhi to address a public meeting at Thanesar (Kurukshetra) shortly
Closing down Mandis will only increase unemplyment: Lakhs of people work at the Mandis. "Where will those people working at the Mandis go if mandis are closed," says Rahul Gandhi.
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: " Modi said he is giving freedom to farmers by bringing in the farm bills but then why are farmers on road protesting, why didn't his government allow a debate on the bills in Parliament."
Rahul Gandhi begins addressing public meeting at Pehowa anaj mandi, says the Narendra Modi goverment has done nothing for the famers in the past six years.
Members of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU Ekta-Ugrahan) protest against the three farm bills and Corporate houses in Sangrur .Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh
Rahul Gandhi reaches Pehowa anaj mandi. He will address a public meeting at the mandi, shortly.
After winding up his last rally at Sanaur in Patiala, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi drove a tractor to reach Haryana border on the concluding day of his "Kheti Bachao Yatra". He was accompanied on the tractor state Congress chief Kumari Selja, senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda. A number of Congress workers were accompanying Gandhi from Punjab's Patiala district, but the procession was stopped on the highway near Teokar village on Pehowa border for an hour.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has entered Haryana, as part of his Kheti Bachao tractor rally. Gandhi will be addressing rallies in Pehowa and Pipli areas of Kurukshetra district, in Haryana.
Congress leader rahul gandhi, along with other leaders and his supporters try to cross the Punjab-Haryana Border during the Kheti Bachao tractor rally near kyukar Village of Pehowa.
A gherao was conducted by the farmers at Harnaya Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Singh's residence in Sirsa. Farmers and police have entered into a clash. Police fired tear gas to disperse the aditated mob. Security has been beefed up at the Singh's residence.
Express Photo by Manoj Dhaka
Rahul Gandhi, who will be rallying in Haryana for the rest of the day was given permission to enter the state on a condition that not more than 100 people can gather at a time. Ambala IGP Y Puran Kumar said: "The permission for entry of Rahul Gandhi is conditional. More than 100 persons won't be allowed at a point of time. Covid restrictions have to be followed. The organizers have accepted the conditions."
In other news, Punjab health minister Balbir Sidhu has tested positive for Coronavirus. On Monday, he had shared stage with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to address public meetings at Pehowa and at Pipli in Kurukshetra district. Pipli is the same place where the protesting farmers were lathicharged on September 10.
Senior Congress leaders including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress President Kumari Selja, Kiran Choudhry, Kuldeep Bishnoi have reached the Haryana border to welcome Rahul Gandhi. The police have installed Nakas at least at half a dozen points to regulate the traffic.
The Modi government has forcibly taken control of all the key institutions, Rahul alleged, while addressing a press conference in Patiala on the third and final day of his Kheti Bachao Yatra in Punjab. The BJP government has captured the soul of the country, he claimed. Read more
Whatever happens in Punjab directly and indirectly affects the Sikh and Punjabi diaspora communities around the world. Naturally, the ongoing farmers’ protest too has found an echo in the sentiments of Punjabis living in the UK, where numerous rallies and virtual events are being organised to stand with farmers in distress.
That there is a huge emotional support for the cause of Punjabi farmers is evident from an impressive turnout at the ‘Kisaan Rally’ held late Sunday afternoon in Southall. Despite incessant rain, Covid restrictions and a police fine of £10,000, the streets of Southall filled up with hundreds of people and a large number of farm and luxury vehicles. “I attended the rally to express solidarity with our brothers in Punjab who have left the comfort of their homes to protest against the recent farm laws,” says Mohinder Kaur, an elderly woman who had braved the weather to join the protest. (Read full story here)
Security has been beefed up in Haryana's Sirsa where farmers in large numbers have gathered. Several 'nakas' have been set up in the city to ensure there is no traffic disruption. Yogender Yadav, a member of the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee was also present at the protest site. See Photos by Manoj Dhaka below.
Congress's Kheti Bachao Yatra on its third day will reach Haryana and due to this, several congressmen have gathered at the Punjab-Haryana border. Troops are deployed in great numbers waiting for the arrival of Rahul Gandhi along with Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh. Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda was present at the Punjab border to oversee the arrangements for today's yatra. (Inputs from Sukhbhir Siwach)