Govt. snatching rights of farmers to benefit corporate houses: Congress

The Congress Party on Saturday said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is trying to snatch the right of the farmers to benefit few corporate houses by passing the Land Acquisition Bill.

"The entire country and farmers are adversely affected by the climate and the Modi government is trying to snatch the right of the farmers just to benefit few corporate houses," said Congress spokesperson, Shobha Oza.

"Farmers and Congress workers from the entire country are going to assemble to protest against the Modi government's anti-farmer sentiment," she added.

Oza further asserted that the farmers and the Congress workers are going to protest under the leadership party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-president Rahul Gandhi to wake up and shake this government to be more sensitive towards farmer issues.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi met farmers from various states, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, outside his 12, Tughlaq Lane residence .

Farmers recounted their losses at the meeting and appealed for help from the Congress scion.

"We faced heavy loss due to hailstorm, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (Shivraj Chouhan) is just saying things but doing nothing," said a farmer from Bundelkhand.

"We will demand Rahul ji to take a tour of whole country and give compensation to farmers, we are confident that he will understand our pain," added another farmer.

The meeting was held a day ahead of the mega 'Kisan Mazdoor rally' at the Ramlila Maidan in the national capital.

The Congress vice-president arrived in New Delhi on Thursday after a two-month long break from the political scene. His whereabouts were a matter of much speculation and it is still not known where he spent his holidays.

The Congress had, however, defended his absence and said that the 44-year-old leader wanted time off for introspection after a series of electoral drubbings.