Cong launches ‘zameen wapsi’

 Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 18

The Congress today unleashed a major political offensive against the government’s land ordinance by getting its vice-president Rahul Gandhi to meet a 1,000-strong farmer delegation in the morning and later launching “zameen wapsi” website to counter the BJP’s “ghar wapsi” drive.

The twin events served as precursors to the Congress’ “Kisan Khet Mazdoor” rally at Ramlila ground tomorrow where party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul will address nearly 1 lakh visitors.

In his first public appearance after his nearly two-month long absence, Rahul led the party’s anti-land ordinance campaign by engaging with hordes of farmers at his residence. The meeting with farmers from Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and Punjab lasted over two hours.

Flanked by aides, Rahul appeared relaxed and chose to walk through queues of gathered farmers in contrast to his past style of speaking to captive audiences. “I promise you our support. We will fight your battle from the street to Parliament,” Rahul told farmers.

Leaders of farmers’ delegation met Rahul at his house and apprised him of their demands that included enhanced MSP, compensation and speedy procurement of damaged crops — issues Sonia addressed during her visits to Haryana, Rajasthan and UP.

The Congress’ “zameen wapsi” website intends to fight the RSS’ “ghar wapsi” campaign politically. The bilingual website seeks to dispel the government’s alleged propaganda on the land issue; provide information on existing laws on land acquisition; give access to parliamentary debates so people know how BJP leaders backed the 2013 land law the UPA had brought and later retracted; and provide a one-stop information centre on the party’s upcoming campaigns against the ordinance.

“Gradually, the website will have a grievance redress system to accept complaints from land owners affected by the ordinance,” said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who anchored the website.