Lacklustre response to Congress' Parliament 'siege'

The much-touted Parliament siege planned by the Congress on agrarian distress got a lukewarm response on Tuesday with big leaders giving it a miss.

The 'Sansad Gherao Andolan' was organised by Nana Patole, the newly appointed Chairman of the Kisan-Khet Mazdoor Congress. Patole quit the BJP in December last year, and joined the Congress.

Patole had reached out to about 40 farmers' organisation for support and state Congress units had sent representatives for the programme.

Addressing the gathering, Patole slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “ignoring” the farmers whom he had promised better remunerative prices for farm produce in the run up to the election.

The rally was attended by former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, AICC General Secretary Mukul Wasnik, AICC in-charges P C Chacko, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Rajeev Satav, UP Congress chief Raj Babbar, Haryana CLP leader Kiran Chaudhary, Nitin Raut among others.

Patole said the prime minister had promised to reduce prices of petrol and diesel, but instead the fuel prices are touching new heights.

“The prime minister had promised to implement the Swaminathan Committee recommendations to provide succour to farmers, but farmers suicides have been on the rise,” Patole said.

Senior party leaders expressed disapproval over the mismanagement in the organisation of the Parliament siege as many party workers thronged the dais and were seen trying to click selfies with the leaders addressing the gathering.

Ticket seekers for the upcoming elections to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh also were seen at the agitation with banners of their respective faction leaders.