Rahul Gandhi to hold tractor rallies in Punjab, Haryana from October 3-5 to protest against farm laws

Stepping up the agitation against the new farm sector laws, Rahul Gandhi is all set to hit the streets in Punjab on Saturday by leading a three-day tractor rally demanding a rollback of the reform measures that Congress fears could lead to phasing out of support price and dismantling of APMC markets.

Seeking to re-create the campaign that had forced the Modi government to shelve the amendments to the land acquisition law in 2015, the former Congress President is scheduled to traverse to Punjab and Haryana – the states that had witnessed strongest protests against the farm laws.

Rahul is likely to address public meetings and hold stump meetings at public receptions organised for him at different villages in the state. Rahul’s programme is also seen as part of efforts for his comeback bid as Congress president.

Also read: Akali Dal begins kisan marches against farm laws from Punjab to Chandigarh

Punjab also goes to polls early 2022 and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and AICC General Secretary Harish Rawat are expected to join the tractor rally on all the three days.

Rahul is also expected to address a rally in Kaithal in Haryana on Monday before returning to Delhi.

Congress hopes to cash in on farmers’ angst against the agriculture sector reforms unveiled by the Modi government as it seeks to emerge as an alternative to the BJP.

Congress has planned protests and dharnas in every assembly constituency across the country on Friday, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The day would be observed as ‘Kisan Mazdoor Bachao Diwas’ (Save Farmers and Labourers Day).

On October 10, state Congress units will organise farmers’ conventions across all states and also start a signature campaign against the farm sector laws and present it to President Ram Nath Kovind on November 14.