Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working to create “monopolies” of four-five people and the new farm laws were part of that project but lamented that the country had not yet understood the enormity of this tragedy.

Rahul said: “A huge tragedy is unfolding and it is not only about farmers. This is about the country’s future, about the country’s ability to be strong, to stand tall among other nations. What we are seeing is industry after industry — airports, infrastructure, power, telecom, retail — across the board, three-four-five people now own this country.”

Addressing the media after releasing a booklet on the farm crisis at the party headquarters, the former Congress president said: “This small group, the crony capitalists, who have close relations with the Prime Minister, own the country. Agriculture, the biggest business in India — involving 60 per cent of the population — was protected from monopolies so far. Now we are witnessing this last bastion being overrun. The three farm laws are designed to destroy farmers and hand over agriculture to these four-five people.”

Arguing that people’s independence was being snatched and youngsters will not get job under such monopolistic control, Rahul said: “It is a tragedy that the entire country is watching this ridiculous show. It is a tragedy that shows the country itself is not able to understand the depth of what is happening.”

He said the people cannot imagine the price they will have to pay for foodgrain if these four-five business houses are allowed to store millions and millions tones of wheat, rice and other essential commodities.

“Farmers are not fighting their own battle. They are patriots and they are fighting to prevent this country from falling into the hands of three-four people. I support them fully and every Indian should.”

Asked about BJP chief J.P. Nadda’s allegation that he was misleading the farmers with his poor understanding, Rahul burst out. “Farmers know who is Rahul Gandhi and what he does. They know where were Narendra Modi and Nadda when Rahul was fighting for farmers in Bhatta Parsaul, Land Acquisition Act and loan waiver. This is my character. I am not scared of Modi and these people. Mujhe koi fark nahin padta. Main saaf-suthra aadmi hun. Mujhe ye chhoo nahin sakte. Haan goli maar sakte hain, woh alag baat hai (I am not affected by what they say. I am clean person. They can’t touch me. Yes, they can shoot me but that’s a different matter).”

He went on: “Main deshbhakt hun. Desh ki raksha karta jaaonga. Ye mera dharm hai. Main unse jyada fanatic hun (I am a patriot. I will continue protecting the country. This is my religion. I am more fanatic than them). Even if the entire country stands with them, I will fight these forces alone. The country fought for freedom 70-80 years ago and the similar situation is developing. Don’t trust me now. But remember what I said after you lose freedom.”

Dismissing Nadda as inconsequential, he countered the BJP’s charge by saying: “When did the Congress make laws which abolished the mandis, allowed storage without stock limit and prevented farmers from going to court in case of dispute?”

He argued that Modi’s intention was to weaken the farmers so as to rule out the possibility of a fightback and hence nothing short of repeal of these laws should be acceptable.

Asked whether a weak Opposition was the reason for such a bulldozing government, he said: “The Opposition fights through the institutional framework. They have captured every institution — courts, media… they don’t allow us to speak in Parliament. There is an atmosphere of fear… bologe toh maarenge (if you speak, they will beat you up). Anybody speaking against them is branded an anti-national, projected as an enemy.”

Asked how will justice happen then, he said: “I believe in the spirit of this country; I don’t believe you can impose slavery on this country. I don’t believe this country will accept five-six people owning it. Resistance will come from the people. We don’t have thousands of crores that Modi has to control the media. But that forces us to be honest, to be good. There are millions and millions of people in this country who don’t accept the nonsense that is going on. They see the massive failure; the best-performing economy has become the worst. The world is seeing lakhs of farmers sitting in the cold. Modi should be ashamed of it... he is tearing apart what was built slowly, from Mahatma onwards.”

Asked if the Prime Minister should talk directly to the farmers, he said: “But that’s not his style. Why should we suggest if he won’t listen. They don’t. They have been trained by the RSS not to think, not to learn. They only speak.”