Congress leaves no stone unturned in bid to make Kisan rally a success

Party expects competing state leaders to bring big numbers to the rally against the land Bill

The Congress is going all out to ensure that the farmers' rally at the Ramlila grounds in Delhi on Sunday is a success, especially as it is touted to be the comeback vehicle for party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. The party expects a turnout of over 160,000 with units in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and even Rajasthan being mobilised to bring in the crowds. Over a thousand buses are slated to make their way to the capital by day break. Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda alone has given his supporters a target of 50,000 participants.

In the run-up to Sunday's event, Rahul, in his first public appearance after his return from a sabbatical, interacted with farmer organisations from neighbouring states on Saturday.

A Congress general secretary involved in the preparations for the rally explained, “This rally has become a prestige issue for the party. After all, the issue of opposing the National Democratic Alliance's Land Acquisition Bill is something that resonates with the farmers. Even in Punjab, where the Akali Dal government may be siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party, the kisan is backing us.”

As part of its publicity blitzkerig for the rally, the Congress on Saturday launched a "Zameen Wapsi" website. It has already issued radio jingles, radio spots, posters and hoardings with the Dilli Chalo slogan, calling supporters to congregate at the Ramlila Maidan, where Gandhi will address them.

AICC leaders have astutely capitalised on the factionalism within the state units of Haryana and Punjab to ensure there will be maximum attendance from these states at the rally. In Haryana, Digvijaya Singh, the organising committee chairman, and Ahmed Patel attended the preparatory meetings called by Hooda at which over 4,000 of his supporters and 14 MLAs were present. A separate meeting with the rival group led by Haryana PCC chief Ashok Tanwar saw similar enthusiasm. "The two central leaders told the rival factions that they would be happy to see them competing to bring the most supporters to Ramlila Maidan,” said a Congress insider.

The rivalry will be literally be on show at the rally ground, with each faction sporting a particular colour to ensure its visibility. While Hooda’s supporters will sport pink turbans, Tanwar’s will be wearing Gandhi caps. Similarly, Captain Amarinder Singh has directed his supporters in Punjab to wear saffron turbans to make them distinct from the crowds brought in by his arch rival, PCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa.

Singh has given the 43 Congress MLAs loyal to him the target of bringing at least 1,000 people each to the rally. Party sources say that farmers have already set out for Delhi and most are expected to reach the capital by early morning. While some have been directed to congregate at Majnu Ka Tila and then move to the rally venue, others have been asked to halt at Rajghat and then march to Ramlila Maida, a few kilometres away.    

In his first public interaction after his 56-day sabbatical, Gandhi met farmers from neighbouring states on Saturday. He told them that he and his party would fight a "decisive battle" on farmers' issues, including the NDA's Land Acquisition Bill. He also enquired about damage to their crops due to unseasonal rains as well as elicted their views on the land bill.  

Gandhi is expected to take up the issue vociferously at the farmers' rally on Sunday, and according to party leaders, could also make an intervention on the bill in Lok Sabha when the second part of the Budget session starts on Monday.

As part of its publicity blitzkerig the Congress today launched a "Zameen Wapsi" website on the eve of the rally. It has already issued radio jingles, radio spots, posters and hoardings with the Dilli Chalo slogan.