Farmers Movement Archive

Rajasthan: Congress takes out padyatra against farm laws, fuel prices

JAIPUR: The state Congress party on Saturday took out a‘padyatra’, under the leadership of transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, from Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) headquarters and against the Centre’s three farm laws and the hike in petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder prices on Saturday. However, chief minister Ashok Gehlot, PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasara and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot did not join the padyatra. Around 3,000-4,000 people joined the padyatra, which began at 11 am, as it passed through Chandpole market, Choti Chaupad, Badi Chaupad, Ramganj market, Surajpole and culminated at Galta Gate. Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi, MLAs – Ganga Devi Rafique Khan, Ameen Kagzi and Govind Meghwal were present in the padyatra. Khachariyawas drove a tractor at Ramganj market and leaders like Joshi, Kagzi, Khan, Devi, Manoj Mudgal, mayor Munesh Gurjar gave him company all the way. Hundreds of Congress workers and councillors joined the padytra as they raised slogans like ‘tanasahi nahi chalegi’ and ‘kisan birodhi bill wapas lo’. The business community at Chandpole market welcomed Khachariyawas by tying a turban and handing over as word. Addressing the crowd at Galta Gate, Khachariyawas said, “The struggle will continue till the farm laws are not repealed by the centre. The Congress workers are fighting, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, against the centre’s move to hike petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder prices and in support of farmers’ agitation across the country.” “This is a struggle between the Modi government and the people(of the country). Time has come to raise the slogan “Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao” in order to save this country,” he added. MLA Rafique Khan said, “There is a wave of anti-incumbency against the Modi government across the country on issues of petrol-diesel prices, inflation, employment and farm laws. A movement is developing across the country and people are joining this movement spontaneously. This (farm laws) has become a common man’s issue. They (BJP) are also losing elections in every part of the country because of their policies.”

The Times of India

2021-02-21

Jaipur