Congress planning 'kisan khaat sabha' re-run in UP

LUCKNOW: The Congress, trying to recover from its defeat in the Assembly elections in UP earlier this year, may do a rerun of its “kisan khaat sabha“ which saw party vice-president Rahul Gandhi leading a movement across UP last year for about four months from July ahead of the elections, asking villagers to discuss their issue and problems with him, sitting on “khaats.“
It is part of a multi-pronged strategy that the beleaguered Congress has drawn up to don an aggressive posture for its revival as a formidable force in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
The plan has been drawn up in view of the depressing mood engulfing farmers in many parts of the country .
It has formed a “Jan Andolan Samiti“ to be spearheaded by former NSUI chief Swayam Prakash Goswami.
“Our agitation will not be limited to the streets. We will raise our voice in the Assembly too to put pressure on the BJP to fulfill promises made to farmers, including loan waiver and doubling farm inco me,“ said Mona Mishra, second-time Congress MLA from Pratapgarh.
The party, which has its lo west tally of just seven in a House of 403 MLAs, is gearing up to fight back.
“At present, the party wants to develop its old connect with farmers and rural population by raising farmers' issues. In a way , the agitation will see an extension of the “kisan khaat sabha“ which was led by Rahul Gandhi ahead of the assembly elections in the state,“ said UPCC president Raj Babbar, who had visited Mandala in Baghpat two days ago to meet farmers who were injured in police action while protesting.Babbar had visited the hospital where injured peasants were recovering and had promised the party's support to them. Rahul Gandhi has directed Babbar to ask district units chiefs and village-level workers and leaders of the party to be the first in reaching out to farmers whenever they are in trouble and also put demands on the state government.
It was Raj Babbar who had led the party's agitation against the beheading of Rajiv Gandhi's statue and not only ensured the arrest of the accused, but also repair of the statue by the district administration.
“More than three crore farmers are feeling cheated by the way BJP government in the state. While promises of loan waivers were made nothing has been done so far and the government is struggling to mobilize funds,“ Babbar told TOI.