Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to injured farmer Gurmeet Singh, who participated in the Delhi Chalo march on Tuesday. He said Gurmeet Singh was seriously injured in police atrocities during the farmer’s protest. He said the dictatorial attitude of the Modi government towards the country’s protector and food provider has put democracy to shame.

He asked Singh about his health and showed his support for the peaceful movement demanding their rights. The conversation between Rahul Gandhi and farmer Gurmeet Singh took place over a phone call which was facilitated by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Raja Warring.

The farmer Gurmeet Singh had been admitted to government hospital in Rajpura town of Patiala district. Farmers clashed with the Police on Tuesday at two border points between the states and faced tear gas, water cannons as they tried to breach the security barricades to continue their protest towards the national capital. He condemned the police action and assured Singh that he is with him and told him not to worry.

Gandhi praised Singh’s efforts and encouraged him with Shabash and best wishes. On Tuesday the farmer leaders had accused the central government of an attack on protesters which caused 60 injuries due to tear gas shells at Punjab-Haryana border points. 24 policemen were also injured during the farmer protests which also included the superintendent.

Earlier Rahul Gandhi reacted to the protest and said the Congress if voted to power, will give a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to every farmer as per the Swaminathan Commission. The Congress leader took to X and wrote farmer brothers, today is a historic day! and the Congress has decided to give legal guarantee of MSP to every farmer on crops as per the Swaminathan commission. This step will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families by ensuring their prosperity.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday filed her nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Rajasthan. Reacting to Gandhi’s Rajya Sabha nomination, Union Minister Giriraj Singh took a jibe at Gandhi and said she must be tired of contesting Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP leader also responded to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s comment over PM Modi saying Kharge may think whatsoever but in people’s eye, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular leader. Singh further attacked saying Kharge has been frustrated now, he wanted to launch Rahul Gandhi but since the launching pad had some issues he couldn’t be launched.

Earlier today, Gandhi landed at the Jaipur airport accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi.

Apart from Gandhi, Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh has been nominated for Bihar, Abhishek Manu Singhvi for Himachal Pradesh and Chandrakant Handore for Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, speaking to the reports, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot welcomed Gandhi’s decision to file nomination papers for the Upper House from Rajasthan and said Congress is proud of it.

The Congress leader also said Gandhi could have gone to any state and become Rajya Sabha but if she has chosen Rajasthan, it will be discussed across the country and the NDA government would also be alert now.

With this, it will be Gandhi’s first term in the Rajya Sabha after serving five terms as a Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli.

Gandhi, first elected in 1999 as a Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli, will not contest the next general elections.

In April, a total of 56 members of Rajya Sabha from 15 states, will be retiring. As per the official notice, the election to the seats will be held on February 27 and the last date for filing nominations is February 15.

The Congress party is in a comfortable position to secure one of the three Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan, which will be up for election. The seat will become vacant once the current holder, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, completes his six-year tenure in April.

Protesting farmers were undeterred by clashes with police at the Punjab-Haryana border and began to march towards Delhi on Wednesday. They declared a ceasefire after a hectic day which was marked by tear gas, water cannons, and clashes with police. Haryana Police had to resort to firing tear gas shells at the protesters to stop them from approaching the barricades.

About 100 tractor trolleys lined up at Shambhu on the Punjab-Haryana border as farmers continued their Delhi Chalo march, but a large number of security forces were stationed with concrete barricading and dug up roads to stop the protesting farmers.

In the Delhi-NCR region expressways turned into crawl-ways due to the increased traffic restrictions and heavy police barricading slowed down the movement of vehicles. As the protesting farmers move close to the national capital on Wednesday, the police will increase the security arrangements on the border. This in turn is going to make it all the more difficult for the daily commuters.

Similar to the earlier farmer protest of 2020-21, large number of farmers from Punjab were stopped by a heavy police presence as they tried to break through the barricades on their way to Delhi. The Haryana police is determined to stop the protesting farmers from entering the state and has increased security measures with the use of drones which are equipped with tear gas canisters, concrete barriers and water cannons.

The clashes between the farmers and the police personal led to injuries. Reports said that 24 policemen were hurt and 60 protesting farmers were hurt during the clashes. Authorities said drones carrying tear gas canisters, along with water cannons, cement barriers, sand bags and tyre defaltors were used in order to stop the protesting farmers. The security personal appealed to the farmers but the situation got out of hand when they started pelting stones and even tried to break down the barricades.