Even as it waits for vice-president Rahul Gandhi to return, the Congress will launch the next phase of its agitation on Friday against the NDA’s Land Bill from Bhatta and Parsaul villages in western Uttar Pradesh.
The former Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh, will lead a march by farmers and Indian Youth Congress activists from the villages to Delhi. The protesters will march up to Raj Ghat, where senior Congress leaders will join them on March 15 and then gherao Parliament on Monday.
The protest is part of the strategy prepared by Mr. Gandhi and his team, including Mr. Ramesh and Ajay Maken, that included a series of protests since the government brought in an ordinance to amend the UPA’s flagship land acquisition law. The party had staged a protest at Jantar Mantar on February 25 against the amended Bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Mr. Gandhi was earlier expected to participate in the February protest at Jantar Mantar and the congregation at Raj Ghat. However, he has been on leave since the budget session of Parliament began. “[The] Congress vice-president had taken leave of absence from the party president for introspection and contemplation. We should respect his decision primarily aimed at giving fresh vigour and direction to the party,” Congress communication department chief Randeep Surjewala told The Hindu . Another Congress leader, however, said Mr. Gandhi’s absence was expected to have a negative impact on the agitation and the party’s morale.
Mr. Gandhi’s two-pronged strategy has been to rally support from farmers and civil society groups outside Parliament against dilution of the 2013 Land Bill and from Opposition parties in Parliament. He also wants to involve the IYC in a serial street protest to energise the Congress cadre and increase the impact of the agitation.
Bhatta and Parsaul saw a prolonged and violent agitation by farmers against land acquisition in 2011 when Mayawati was Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. Two farmers were killed in clashes with the police in May 2011. Following the agitation, Mr. Gandhi undertook a three-day march later that year, gathering feedback from farmers and extending support to the cause. He also led a delegation of farmers to the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to demand a new land acquisition law.
