Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Feb 22 drove tractors in Wayanad, Kerala and in Patna, Bihar respectively.
Though there was no link between the two protests the purpose was common: to show solidarity towards the farmers agitating against the three farm laws on the border with Delhi and rising fuel prices.
While Rahul, along with his supporters, drove a tractor from Thrikaripatta to Muttil for six kilometres in his parliamentary constituency, Tejashwi went to the Assembly on his tractor to attend the Budget Session of Bihar Assembly, where the state finance minister Tarkishore Prasad presented a budget of Rs 2,18,302.70 crore, putting focus on education, rural development, agriculture, youth, employment, health facilities and the state government’s ‘Saat Nischay’ (Seven Resolves) Part 2. While talking to the media, Tejashwi asked as to what Bihar has gained by the abolition of APMCs fifteen years back. He also wanted to know the view of chief minister Nitish Kumar on the rising price of fuel.
On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi came down heavily on the Narendra Modi government for handing over the agriculture sector to two of his friends. He questioned the silence of the Prime Minister on this issue. He said that the Centre will have to take back the three farm laws which are detrimental to the farmers of the country.
Incidentally in the poll-bound Kerala both the ruling Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front are opposing the new farm laws and in their own respective ways trying to woo the farmers.
Rahul has been urged by his supporters to campaign extensively in the coming polls.
