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In first appearance after sabbatical Rahul interacts with farmers

by IBNS 18 Apr 2015, 11:20 am

New Delhi, Apr 18 (IBNS) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi made his first public appearance on Saturday after his 57-day sabbatical as he interacted with farmers' delegations ahead of Sunday's "Kisan Khet Mazdoor" rally in Delhi.

Delegations of farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh attended the meet at the Congress leader's New Delhi residence. 

The farmers' rally is being organised to intensify the agitation against the land acquisition law ahead of the second half of the Parliament's budget session, which is to begin on Monday.

 
Both Rahul and his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are expected to address the Sunday's rally.

Earlier this month, the land acquisition ordinance was reissued after the government failed to pass a bill to replace it in Parliament.

Rahul's meeting with farmers on Saturday is being seen as an exploratory exercise regarding the farmers' problems, including the crop loss in nine states following the unseasonal rains in March and April.

"The farmers are facing a grave situation. We hope he raises voice for us," said some of the delegates of the meeting.

Sunday's rally, to be held at Delhi's Ramlila Grounds, has been organised on a large scale with the party expecting around one lakh farmers to attend it. 
 
Congress leader Sachin Pilot,  who is also the chief of Rajasthan unit of the party, has booked a special 17-coach "Kissan (farmer) Express" from Jaipur to Delhi.