Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday predicted that the Narendra Modi government would be compelled to repeal the new farm laws, stressing that suppressing farmers to help a few corporate houses would not be tolerated in the country.
Speaking to the media in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai, Rahul said: “I am very proud of what the farmers are doing. I fully support the farmers and will continue to stand with them. I raised their issues at a yatra in Punjab and will continue to do it. Mark my words, take it from me, these laws… the government will be forced to take them back. Remember what I said.”
The government hasn’t given any indication so far of withdrawing the laws, which have triggered one of the biggest mass movements in India’s history, with Prime Minister Modi and his party leaders accusing the Congress of misleading the farmers. While Rahul’s assessment may be based on the farmers’ unwavering resolve, this also indicates the Opposition’s readiness to extend political support to the agitation.
Rahul, whose absence from India over the past fortnight gave ammunition to the BJP and his other critics to attack the Congress that is grappling with a leadership crisis for a year now, launched a scathing attack on Modi although he was visiting Tamil Nadu primarily for an apolitical engagement — to witness the traditional jallikattu bull-taming festival on the day of Pongal.
Apart from the farmers’ issue, Rahul also broached the Chinese intrusions, which have almost been erased from the political discourse.
Asked about the “neglect” of thousands of farmers who are sitting at Delhi’s borders for 50 days braving a punishing winter, the Congress leader said: “The government is not just neglecting them. The government is conspiring to destroy them. There is a difference — neglecting is when you ignore them. The government is not ignoring them, they are trying to destroy them (the farmers) because they want to give what belongs to the farmers to two-three of their corporate friends. They (the government) want to take their (farmers’) land and their produce. The word neglect is too weak to explain what is happening.”
Rahul added: “Farmers are the backbone of this country. If anybody thinks you can suppress the farmers and the country will continue to prosper… they can look at our history. Whenever farmers are weak, India is weak. I would like to ask a counter question — you suppress farmers to help a handful of businesses. During corona, you didn’t help the common man. Whose Prime Minister are you? Are you the Prime Minister of India or of two-three selected businessmen?”
The Congress MP then switched to China, saying: “There is a final question — what is China doing in our territory and why is the Prime Minister silent? Why has he nothing to say about it?”
The primary purpose of Rahul’s visit to Madurai, where he attended a jallikattu event, appeared to be to launch his party’s campaign in election-bound Tamil Nadu. He sent out the message that the Congress was aligned with the Tamil sentiment and culture much better than the other national party — the BJP — which he accused of plotting to impose uniformity throughout the country.
The Congress wants to correct its position on jallikattu, which it had opposed earlier and its government at the Centre had banned in 2011, after realising that the annual event is part of the Tamil identity, particularly in rural areas.
Describing what he saw as a “lovely experience”, Rahul argued that the changes introduced in the format had made the game safer for both the bulls and the youths who participated in it.
