Congress leader Rahul Gandhi invoked Mahatma Gandhi on Friday on the 151st anniversary of the birth of the Father of the Nation to declare that he is not afraid of anyone in this world.
“I will not fear anyone in the world… I will not bow down to anyone’s injustice. I will win the lie with the truth and I can bear all the sufferings while I oppose the lie, ”Rahul quoted Gandhi.
On Thursday, UP Pradesh (UP) police detained Rahul along with his sister and the party’s general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi, when they tried to enter Hathras, which made headlines following the gang rape and murder of a Dalit teenager (19) by four upper caste men.
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Rahul’s comment also underscored his intentions about his next round of agitations against the government of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Narendra Modi.
He will visit Punjab on Saturday to take part in some programs against the newly enacted agricultural bills that, according to opposition parties, will only benefit merchants and corporate entities in agribusiness.
The President of Congress, Sonia Gandhi, also, in her message on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, announced that the party would continue to fight against the agricultural laws. “Congressional agitation against three black (agricultural) laws will continue. I want to emphasize that this farmers movement and Congress will be successful and farmers will win. ”
According to Rahul’s aides, Punjab Prime Minister Amrinder Singh organized a series of protest programs, including a tractor rally, on Saturday. Rahul is expected to participate in some of those programs.
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His aides said that although many state party units have requested Rahul to attend their regional protest programs, a final call will be taken regarding his participation in upcoming events after taking into account the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid- 19) across the country.
On Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh administration had shut down Hathras and the UP police arrested Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra.
The Gandhis visited Hathras amid allegations by relatives of the Dalit victim that UP police hastily cremated her in the dead of night at around 2:30 am Wednesday in an attempt to contain public outcry against the heinous crime.
Sonia in her message also spoke about the “injustice” inflicted on farmers, workers and the working class, noting that Congress will continue its protests against the Modi government.
“Today is the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest supporter of farmers, workers and working people. Gandhiji used to say that the soul of India resides in the villages, fields and barns of India. Today is also the anniversary of the birth of our former prime minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who gave the motto of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,’ ”he said.
“But today the farmers and day laborers of the country are agitating in the streets against the three anti-black laws. The Modi government is crying tears of blood for the donor farmer who grows grain for the country by sweating his blood, “he said.
He reminded the public that Congress “has always made all laws with public consent” and before the enactment of the law, “the interests of the people have been kept at the top.”
He added: “Democracy also means that every decision of the country has the consent of the compatriots. But does the Modi government believe it? Perhaps the Modi government does not recall that it was unable to change the ‘Land Rights Compensation Law’ for farmers’ rights through an ordinance. ”
