Farmer leader slams Rahul for his rally

Criticising Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for organising farmers' rally for his re-appearance in public life after a gap of 56 days, Swabhimnai Shetkari Sanghatana president Raju Shetty on Sunday said that instead Gandhi should take to streets to push the farmers' issues.

Rahul Gandhi on Sunday addressed a rally and made a comeback in public life. Congress president Sonia Gandhi also addressed the rally. Both criticised Narendra Modi government for its anti-farmer policies and the land acquisition bill.

Shetty, who is also a Lok Sabha MP from Hatkanangale in Kolhapur, said that Congress is the party which was in power for six decades and it should not be averse to an agitation on the street. Shetty said that Gandhi, instead of isolating himself for almost two months, should have learnt reading the masses in the country.

Shetty also said that if Gandhi goes and meets farmers in their fields, farmers would feel that Congress leader cares for them and it would also provide some life to the party. Shetty cautioned Gandhi by saying that if he tried to exploit farmers they would never back the Congress.