New Delhi: The verdict: Rahul Gandhi is a much more confident leader now.
The grouse: Why didn’t he stand this firm earlier?
The expectation: He will make our fight his own.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. PTI
The vice president of the Congress Rahul Gandhi has emerged with many pluses in his post-sabbatical mega rally of farmers. The biggest, of course, being his ability to come out strongly in support of the latter, who had gathered at the Ramlila Maidan under the scorching sun on Sunday.
Equally noticeable was the change in his body language. He didn’t roll up the sleeves of his kurta in an aggressive gesture that he would display often during the election rallies. The pause between his sentences too was much briefer than in the past. Clearly, it was a straight, firm talk with the farmers devoid of any vocal theatrics.
Thousands of farmers, who came from different states to be a part of the Kisaan Rally, waited patiently for more than three hours till the arrival of Rahul Gandhi. There was a sea of people from one end to the other of the historic ground – farmers in topis, in pink and white turbans and many covering their heads with ‘gamchhas’ (an Indian cotton towel).
The objective was common: to listen to Gandhi and know what assurance he gives to them on the controversial Land Acquisition Bill, which the Modi government wants to pass in the upcoming session of Parliament.
"Rahulji had earlier visited Bhatta-Parasaul during our bad days. We strongly believe that if he intervenes, the government (central) would be compelled to take note of farmers’ grievances related to the Land Bill. Our only complaint is why didn’t he intervene earlier? He should have stepped in much before. But it’s better that he’s back and we hope he would lead the farmers’ battle from the front," said Kishan Yadav, a mid-level farmer, who came along with a group from Bhatta-Parsaul to be a part of the rally.
There is a remarkable change in Rahul Gandhi's speech this time in comparison to the past. He sounded more assertive, if not aggressive, clear and confident. Many farmers in the large gathering too accepted the fact that "he sounded firm this time than during previous election rallies".
A group of farmers listening to Rahul’s address along with a few Congress workers from Haryana said, "Abki baar Rahul ji mein ek alag hi josh hai (This time Rahul ji is sounding more enthusiastic). He should strongly take up farmers’ issue. The farmers are aggrieved; as the government lathi-charged us when we raised our issue. Why Narendra Modi doesn't listen to farmers’?"
Making the farmers understand the politics behind the bill and what compelled the Modi government to amend the Land Acquisition Bill 2013 and make it favourable for the corporate and industry, Gandhi alleged, "Do you know how Modi won the election? He borrowed a lot of money from industrialists for his several campaigns and advertisements. These run into several hundred crores. How will he pay them back? He will pay them back with your land. He will give your land to his industrialist friends, and his ‘Make in India’ programme is hogwash."
"Modi's Gujarat model had showed how easily he can snatch farmers' land. NDA’s Land Bill is a poisonous seed," he said.
After telling the farmers about the amendments made in the bill by the NDA government and its ills, Gandhi said before concluding his speech in a tone of assurance, "Yeh desh kisano ka hai, mazdooron ka hai… main aap ke saath hoon (This country belongs to the farmers and labourers… I’m with you). This was received with a huge applause and slogans. The Congress party flags were waved to welcome their leader’s stand on the burning issue."
"Though he (Rahul Gandhi) stepped in late, his assurance that he’s with us, will help the farmers’ to strongly protest against the land acquisition. It was Soniaji’s initiative and leadership, under which all the opposition parties came together for the first time and demonstrated before the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Now Rahulji should take this forward and ensure that the BJP shouldn’t get the bill passed," said Satvir Jakhar, a Haryana-based farmer.
A graduate in agriculture science and a farmer himself, Roop Singh Meena from Rajasthan said, "This is a golden opportunity both for the Congress and Rahul Gandhi to reclaim the lost ground by connecting with the farmers. The farmers have lost faith in Modi and right now there’s no strong political leadership to back them. Rahul Gandhi should fill this space and lead from the front, both outside and inside Parliament."
The farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, etc., were found to be sitting in different blocks along with local Congress leaders of respective states.
Was it a politically-sponsored farmers’ rally?
"Not at all. The large number of farmers, who have come here from different states, speaks about the anger they have against the land acquisition bill. We only asked our state units to inform the farmers and farmers’ bodies about today’s rally in Delhi and coordinate with them, as they have come from outside. Rest, the farmers joined the rally. Had they not wanted, we couldn't have forced them to join us. All have come voluntarily to be a part of Rahul ji’s rally, as every farmer is worried of the consequences once the land bill gets passed," a Congress leader said.
"Is it possible for a single party to convince lakhs of farmers across the country that Modi’s land bill is damaging, without having any truth in it? Irrespective of any politics, the farmers have become well aware about the ills of the Land Bill," he said.
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