New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi once again took on the Narendra Modi government in Parliament today, accusing it of failing distressed farmers in the country. There was ruckus in the House as the government insisted on rebutting Mr Gandhi, leading to an adjournment.
"Alleviate their pain, they are crying and your government has done nothing," Mr Gandhi said, reminding the ruling BJP that its "Haryana Minister says farmers committing suicide are cowards."
The Congress leader, who is just back from Punjab, made a direct jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his visits abroad, saying, "The PM is visiting India, let him also visit Punjab and see the situation for himself."
In another swipe, he said, "Does the farmer not make in India?" This was a reference to the PM's massive manufacturing push in the country, Make in India. The Congress leader alleges that the Modi government's land acquisition policy is designed to benefit rich industrialists at the cost of poor farmers.
Mr Gandhi visited grain markets and talked to farmers distressed at the slow purchase of their produce in Punjab. This evening he will go to Vidarbha in Maharashtra, where many farmers have committed suicide.
This morning came news that two more farmers have allegedly killed themselves in the Amravati region of Vidarbha, where the Congress leader will trek 15 km tomorrow to highlight the plight of farmers.
The BJP rules both Punjab and Maharashtra, along with allies. It also rules Haryana, where a minister shockingly said yesterday, "Suicide is a crime. According to Indian law, suicide is a crime. A person who commits suicide runs away from his responsibilities. Such people are cowards and the government cannot stand by such cowards or criminals."
As he entered Parliament this morning, Mr Gandhi did not comment on the minister's remarks, but he did cross-check Mr Dhankar's name with reporters.
This was Mr Gandhi's third speech in Parliament in the last two weeks. Before this he had made three in 10 years.
The lack of practice showed when the Speaker had to remind the Congress leader to address the chair and not the government directly when he said, "your government..."
Mr Gandhi sportingly accepted the banter that followed and even turned it around when he said, "Yes, it's your government, our government but not the farmer's government."
