Rahul Gandhi will hold massive public meetings and tractor rallies across Punjab and Haryana for three days. (Express photo by Gurmeet Singh)Punjab, Haryana Farmers Protest Today HIGHLIGHTS: Rahul Gandhi Sunday questioned Centre’s claim of farm laws benefiting the farmers and said, “If farmers are happy with these laws then why are they protesting across the nation? Why is every farmer in Punjab protesting? Gandhi further attacked the Centre for implementing the farm laws without any open discussion in the parliament and during a crisis like coronavirus.
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.
Sidhu, who had stayed away from all Congress activities ever since he resigned as cabinet minister last year, dubbed the farm laws an “attack on federal structure” and alleged the central government was being run by “capitalists”.
“They are trying to impose America’s failed system on us. Capitalists are running this country. Benefits to farmers are labelled as ‘subsidies’ whereas relaxations worth lakhs of rupees given to the rich are called ‘incentives’,” 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 )
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)
CM Captain Amarinder Singh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party's state chief Sunil Jakhar and party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu in Chakar reach Ludhiana for the 'Kisan Bachao Rally'. Earlier today, Gandhi arrived in Moga for leading tractor rallies across the state from Sunday till Tuesday in protest against the laws. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, state Congress president Sunil Jakhar, party's Punjab incharge Harish Rawat and other leaders were present.
Punjab MLA and former cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday attended a tractor rally led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to protest against the Centre's new farm laws. Addressing a public gathering here, Sidhu slammed the BJP-led Centre over the farm laws and dubbed them as an "attack on federal structure" and alleged the central government was being run by "capitalists".
"They are robbing our rights," he said, adding that the Centre had imposed a "system" which had failed in Europe and the US.
He said these new legislations would adversely affect five lakh labourers and 30,000 ''arthiyas'' (commission agents). Sidhu said that the Punjab government should give minimum support price (MSP) on pulses and oilseeds and set up an infrastructure for the storage of crops.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Centre on Sunday over the three new agriculture laws, asking why were the farmers agitating if these were meant for them. Addressing a public meeting in Badhni Kalan in Punjab's Moga district, Gandhi asserted that the contentious Acts would be revoked if the Congress was voted to power. He wondered what was the "hurry" and need to implement these legislations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
'Punjab govt should provide storage and other facilities to farmers, take their responsibility and fight for them,' said Navjot Singh Sidhu Sunday as he shared the stage with Captain Amarinder Singh in presence of Rahul Gandhi.
At 'Kheti Bachao Yatra', Rahul Gandhi said Modi government wants to destroy 3 pillars of Indian agriculture.
Addressing the Kisaan Bachao rally at Badhni Kalan in Moga, Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Modi has 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 Govt wants to destroy the three pillars of Indian agriculture - MSP, foodgrain procurement and Mandis. What was the hurry to bring these laws in the times of Covid 19? Why was there no proper discussion in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?, “ he asked.
“Kisaanon ke paise aur zameen ka maamla hai. Desk ke do teen arabpati kisaanon ki zameen aur paise ki harapna chahte hai,” he thundered as the gathering cheered him on.
The Delhi BJP is set to hold tractor rallies and pujas as part of its campaign to counter the opposition parties escalating attacks on the farm laws that are "misleading the farmers". The campaign aims to reach out to farmers in rural pockets of the national capital.
"Tractor pujas and tractor rallies will be an important part of the campaign to expose how Congress and other parties are misguiding the farmers over the recently passed farm Bills of Modi government," said Delhi BJP general secretary and campaign convener Kuljeet Chahal.
The campaign is set to cover 365 villages up to October 15. (With PTI)
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Sunday said that there is no use of the government’s promises to the farmers as long the farm laws are not amended to make the MSP(Minimum Support Price) compulsory. "As long as the laws passed in the Parliament are not amended to make the MSP compulsory, there is no use of their promises" Singh said speaking at Congress' Kheti Bachao Yatra.
Rahul Gandhi Sunday attacked the centre for implementing the farm laws without any open discussion in the parliament and during a crisis like coronavirus. "What was the need to implement these laws amid #COVID19? What was the haste?" he said while addressing a rally in Moga. "If you had to implement you should've discussed in Lok Sabha-Rajya Sabha. PM says laws are being framed for farmers. If it's the case, why didn't you discuss openly in the House," he added.
Rahul Gandhi Sunday questioned Centre's claim of Farm laws benefiting the farmers and said, "If farmers are happy with these laws then why are they protesting across the nation? Why is every farmer in Punjab protesting?
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, party's state chief Sunil Jakhar, general secretary KC Venugopal and party leaders Harish Rawat and Navjot Singh Sidhu present at the party's 'Kheti Bachao Yatra' in Moga.
Attacking the centre over farm bills, Navjot Singh Sidhu says, "They are trying to impose America's failed system on us. Capitalists are running this country. Benefits to farmers are labelled as 'subsidies' whereas relaxations worth lakhs of rupees given to the rich are called 'incentives'."
Sharing the dias with Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Moga, Navjot Singh Sidhu says Punjab govt should provide storage and other facilities to farmers. "They should take their responsibility and fight for them," he adds.
Youth Akali Dal in Punjab displays hoardings all over Bathinda posing five questions to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over farm laws, ahead of his farmers rally.