Cong, CPI(ML) hold rallies ‘for farmers’

PATNA: The opposition Congress and CPI-ML took out rallies in solidarity with the farmers on Republic Day on Tuesday. While the tractor rally was taken out by CPI-ML members in various parts of Bihar, the state Congress took out a Kisan Tiranga Yatra at Bikram.

Opposition Mahagatbandhan, including the three Left parties, RJD and Congress are also gearing up for the formation of a human chain on January 30 in support of farmers and against the new farm laws. Both CPI-ML and RJD requested others to come forward and participate in the human chain. CPI-ML has also formed a three-member team to connect with the people.

Talking about the march taken out on Tuesday, CPI-ML state spokesperson Kumar Parvez said in Patna, “A tractor rally was taken out from AIIMS till Chitkohra roundabout which was led by Phulwarisharif MLA Gopal Ravidas and attended by party members along with the RJD members. Apart from nearly 50 tractors, people also marched on foot and bike. Similar tractor rallies were taken out across Bihar and several pockets of Patna district.”

The tractor rally in Patna was addressed by Akhil Bhartiya Khet va Gramin Mazdoor Sabha national general secretary Dhirendra Jha, who said the ongoing farmers protest was reminiscent of the protest during the Independence movement.

“Now, the entire country is coming together against the divisive policy of the Modi government and standing in support of farmers. People have made it clear that they will no longer tolerate another Company Raj in the country,” said Jha while addressing the rally.

Talking about the Kisan Tiranga Yatra, which was flagged off by state Congress incharge Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday, Mishra said, “A large number of people, including farmers, participated in this yatra which was taken out from Aspura village till Gandhi Maidan in Bikram. It was a symbolic yatra in which several people were on tractors,” said Mishra, criticising the NDA government at the Centre for the incident which occurred in Delhi on Tuesday, which he said was Centre’s tactics to divert the issue of framer’s plight. He further said apart from the human chain formation on January 30, Congress has also planned for a ‘pad yatra’ on the same day in Champaran.