Rajasthan farmers show black flags to Rahul Gandhi, raise slogans

Farmers of Pilibanga and Sri Ganganagar region showed black flags to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the mahapanchayat. The farmers alleged that Gandhi wanted to gain a political advantage in the pretext of farmers' address.

Sri Ganganagar: A potentially embarrassing situation developed for former Congress President Rahul Gandhi during his two-day visit to Rajasthan where he held farmers' meetings.

Farmers from the region waved black flags and raised slogans against the Congress leader when his convoy was heading towards Sri Ganganagar. Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Rajasthan starting from Friday and he addressed rallies in Pilibanga and Sri Ganganagar yesterday.

Tearing the posters of the Wayanad MP, the farmers alleged that Rahul Gandhi wanted to gain a political advantage in the pretext of farmers' address.

Protesting farmers from Ganganagar Kisan Sangharsh Samiti claimed that they gathered to meet the leader to submit a letter stating their grievances but were not allowed.

"We wanted to interact with Rahul Gandhi. The authorities first agreed to our demands but didn't let us meet him later," the agitating farmers said.

The farmers claimed that the district and higher-level authorities had assured them that Rahul Gandhi would meet them.

One of the farmers claimed, "They don't want to speak with farmers they only wanted to gather a crowd in their political rally."

"Rahul Gandhi did not interact with us even once. We were waiting when he was heading to address the farmers' meeting at Pilibanga and Sri Ganganagar and we kept waiting. But he did not turn up," the farmers claimed, adding that his convoy took a different route to avoid the meet.

The farmers also alleged that Congress workers were put up at the farmers' meeting in Mahapanchayat and Rahul Gandhi has betrayed the farmers.