The huge turnout of farmers and agriculture workers from Delhi and neighbouring States in a rally organised against the proposed changes in the Land Acquisition Act seems to have given immense confidence to the Congress, which is facing a number of political and organisational issues.

Addressing the rally, the grand old party’s Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, who was on sabbatical for about two months, said the Narendra Modi government is trying to weaken the economic base of farmers.

The rally, addressed by almost all senior Congress leaders, is being seen as an attempt by the party to reinforce the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

The 44-year-old Nehru family scion is tipped to take charge of the party in a plenary session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) likely to be held in May.

The party hopes that holding agitations over the Land Bill will help it re-energise the cadre. Earlier, party President Sonia Gandhi had reached out to all Opposition parties on the Bill.

The Congress has been maintaining that it will oppose the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, where the Government is in minority.

Comparing the erstwhile UPA government and the Narendra Modi government, the Amethi MP said farmers got huge benefits such as special packages, loan waivers and increase in minimum support price.

“Modi has taken loan from corporates to win elections. Now it is payback time for him. That is why his government is weakening the economic base of farmers,” Rahul Gandhi said, adding Modi’s interest is in giving a glossy picture of India to the world.

He said under UPA, wide consultations were held among stakeholders which took two years to draft the Land Acquisition Bill of 2013.

“I have seen BJP leaders thumping their desks when the Bill was passed in Parliament. I don’t know what changed in these two years. Now they are bypassing Parliament to make crucial changes in the Bill.”

Attacking the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi said criticising political opponents on foreign soil does not add respect to the post of Prime Minister. “Modi says he is now cleaning the garbage created in the last 50 years. He does not understand the effort of people who build this country,” he added.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the prices of farm produces are on an all-time low.

Farmers’ woes “This government does not care for farmers. Rural wages have also decreased. Allocations for MGNREGA have been cut down,” he said, urging Congressmen to fight the enemies of farmers.

Sonia Gandhi said the rally has improved the confidence of the party.

“We should give a strong message to the Narendra Modi government that farmers and agriculture workers understand the hypocrisy and hollowness of the actions of this government.”

The UPA chairperson said farmers’ suicides have increased since Modi came to power.

“Modi is rubbing salt on the wounds of farmers. The government is conspiring against farmers. It is reaching into agreements with other countries to import foodgrains,” she alleged, adding the price of fertilisers, such as urea, has increased and is being sold in black markets.

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