New Delhi: Congress Party's Rahul Gandhi is likely to join protests in Punjab, later this week, to support farmers agitating against the Central Government's three farm laws, a Congress functionary informed, on Tuesday.
On October 2, Congress will celebrate the birth anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri by observing a "Kisan-Mazdoor Bachao Divas", for which the party will hold dharnas and marches at every Assembly Headquarters across India, demanding an immediate withdrawal of these laws.
It is expected that Rahul Gandhi may join the protest in Punjab on October 2, but the final date and location of the protest is yet to be finalized. He may lead a "Tractor Yatra" along with farmers of Punjab.
While informing about the matter, Congress spokesperson said that there is also the possibility that Rahul Gandhi may not be granted permission to enter Haryana as the state is under BJP rule.
When contacted, Punjab Pradesh Congress Chief Sunil Jakhar told ETV Bharat, "We are inviting him as he was the one who came out first against these laws. He might join."
More than 12,000 farmers are sitting on railway tracks in Punjab as a mark of protest against these laws. Punjab Government has also announced that they will soon approach the Supreme Court to challenge these three contentious farm acts.
"We are facing a Government which is adamant with its legislations. So, we will try our maximum. We will strive within the legal, constitutional mechanism. We have full faith in judiciary that we will get justice in Supreme Court," said Jakhar.
Read: Congress holds nationwide agitation against farm laws
Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi also asked Congress-ruled states to explore possibilities of passing state laws under Article 254(2) of the constitution to bypass these Central Government's farm laws, stating that it would alleviate farmers from "grave injustice" done to them by Modi Government.
Sunil Jakhar said to ETV Bharat, "We are exploring other ways as well so that we can safeguard our farmers from these anti-farmer black laws. However, the method suggested will eventually need consent from the President of India. I personally feel that the President who has signed these bills into law would think twice to sign anything which will negate these laws."
Congress party is opposing three farm bills including Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which got passed in Parliament despite opposition's protest.
President of India gave his assent to these bills, on Sunday, even when thousands of farmers were protesting in various states. However, BJP-led Union Government is repeatedly alleging that Congress is "misleading" the farmers about these laws as this would make the farmers free from the clutches of middlemen and they will be able to sell their produce directly to the corporates.
"Terming Congress to be misleading as they are protesting is an insult to our farmers. Farmers may not be educated but they know what is right and what is wrong for them," reiterated Jakhar.
