Rahul Gandhi leads Congress march to Rashtrapati Bhavan against farm laws

Congress leaders at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. (Twitter/@MahilaCongress)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is marching along with a delegation of party leaders to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Ram Nath Kovind and submit a memorandum seeking annulment of the farm laws. The petition is signed by nearly 2 crore farmers and farm labourers from across the country.

The Congress delegation comprises leaders in both Houses of Parliament and senior party members.

A video posted by the party on Twitter this morning showed an assembly of leaders at the Congress headquarters ahead of the march. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Randeep Singh Surjewala were among those present. Pictures of trucks loaded with boxes of signed petitions were also shared.

Congress delegation led by Shri @RahulGandhi, Leaders of the Party in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha, Senior Party members & MPs assemble to meet the Hon’ble President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan shortly. pic.twitter.com/zvfbkmDvxl

— Congress (@INCIndia) December 24, 2020

Ahead of their march, the Delhi Police imposed Section 144 at 24, Akbar Road, where the party’s office is situated.

Watch: Congress delegation led by Shri @RahulGandhi, Leaders of the Party in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha, Senior Party members & MPs assemble to meet the Hon’ble President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan shortly. pic.twitter.com/32fJBHjE2Q

— All India Mahila Congress (@MahilaCongress) December 24, 2020

“Today is a big day in the fight for farmers’ justice… Those who feed will win, and arrogant Modi will lose,” Surjewala tweeted.

“Congress party leaders led by Rahul Gandhi ji are taking the struggle of farmers today to the Hon’ble President of India seeking his intervention to annul the anti-farmer laws. An appeal signed by around 2 crore farmers and farm labourers from across the nation would be submitted,” Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said.

The Congress, which accused the government of passing the “anti-farmer” legislations in an “undemocratic fashion”, had launched its signature campaign against the farm laws in September. The party had asked its state units to collect signatures from farmers and Agriculture Produce Market Committee traders. It also organised virtual rallies in some parts of the country.

Lakhs of farmers are camping at Delhi’s borders, demanding a repeal of the three contentious laws.

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