Congress backs ‘Bharat Bandh’, says ‘opposition is united’ to support farmers

The Congress party has extended support to “Bharat Bandh” called by coalition of farmers’ unions Samyukt Kisan Morcha on September 27 against three farm laws enacted by Centre. Former Haryana Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda went all guns blazing at BJP-led Centre and said, “Opposition parties support farmers. We support their demands. Issues can be resolved through talks but conditions shouldn’t be applied.”

Congress MP Deepender Hooda accused Centre of ignoring “valid demands” of farmers. “The Government doesn’t listen, they are ignoring valid demands of farmers. Due to their ego, they are not ready to talk to farmers with an open heart. So, what options are left other than this?” Deepender Hooda told ANI.

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill in support of farmers said, “September 27 was a ‘black day’ when BJP Government brought ‘black laws’ to force the farmers of the country out of agriculture.” He also appealed citizens to support Bharat Bandh.

Jaiveer Shergill also took a jibe at PM Modi’s inspection visit to construction site of new Parliament building. The Congress leader said, “If Prime Minister can go to inspect the construction of new Parliament, then why can’t he go to Delhi borders to meet farmers?”

Earlier today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi using the hashtag  ‘IStandWithFarmers’ tweeted: "Farmers' non-violent Satyagraha is intact even today. But the exploitative government does not like this and that is why we have Bharat Bandh today."

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also demanded Prime Minister Modi to roll back the three farm laws by asserting that the entire country is standing in support of the farmers.

The bandh has garnered support from more than 500 farmer organizations, 15 trade unions, political parties, six state governments. State governments of Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh have extended their support to the nationwide protest. Farmers have been protesting at different sites since November 26 last year against the three enacted farm laws. Several rounds of talks between farmer leaders and the Centre remain inconclusive and the protests continue at borders of national capital.