Modi talks about democracy, but forgets farmers: Rahul Gandhi

Congress has set up a high-level committee to organise the 'Kisan Samman' rally on Sept 20 to project the NDA as 'anti-farmer' ahead of Bihar polls

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi today said he talks about democracy but "forgets" farmers and labourers who make up its foundation, as Congress set up a high-level committee to organise the 'Kisan Samman' rally on September 20 to project the NDA as "anti-farmer" ahead of Bihar Assembly polls.

"Modi-ji talks about democracy but does not talk about our farmers and labourers, who run this democracy. He forgets them," Congress Vice-President Rahul told a group of farmers from northern India during an event organised by the Youth Congress here.

The interactive event was organised at 10, Janpath, the residence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, ahead of the party's 'victory rally' at Ramlila ground next week.

The Congress President, who also interacted with the farmers, meanwhile, set up a coordination committee headed by party veteran A K Antony to chalk out details of the rally.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh are co-chairmen of the committee, in which former Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and AICC treasurer Moitlal Vora have been made members.

AICC general secretaries, in-charges of party state units, PCC chiefs and CLP leaders of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh), Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand (Chief Minister Harish Rawat) and Uttar Pradesh are also members of the panel.

The party said that the September 20 rally, which will be addressed by both Sonia and Rahul, was aimed at celebrating the success of farmers and farm labourers, and telling the Modi government that it cannot replace the hard work of the farmer, who is the 'annadata' of the country, with its "dictatorial" will.

Youth Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Brar said around 400 farmers from states like Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh met the Congress President and the Vice President to express their solidarity over the issue.

The programme outside 10, Janpath, and party headquarters 24, Akbar Road, was to "celebrate the victory" of farmers after the government was "forced" to let the land ordinance lapse in the face of vociferous protests by opposition parties, particularly the Congress.

Farmers and Congress leaders marched to 10, Janpath, dressed in traditional costume and bursting crackers before they were taken inside the residence of Sonia Gandhi.

"This is the victory of Congress. But it is the victory of farmers as well," said Rahul after meeting farmers.