Back at work, Rahul meets farmers ahead of today's big rally

NEW DELHI: "Main aapke saath hoon". Rahul Gandhi emerged from his two-month sabbatical with an assurance to farmers that he would wage a fierce battle against the Modi government's land acquisition bill, setting the stage for the farmers' rally on Sunday and resumption of Parliament session the day after.

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In what marked his joining of duty, the Gandhi scion heard farmers' grievances on land bill and crop losses from unseasonal rains, as part of an interaction.

Rahul told farmers it would be a "decisive battle" that would force the government to drop the land bill. He said Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has already started it by leading a protest of 11 parties to the President.

According to farmers, the heir apparent told them he would undertake 'padyatras' across the country in solidarity.

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The well-scripted interaction appeared to have been designed as the ice-breaker to settle the curiosity about Rahul — his return from sabbatical two days back only stoking it further after his absence hogged the spotlight for weeks.

Rahul met and heard five representatives each from Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, UP and Outer Delhi, at his 12, Tughlak Road residence for around an hour, aided by colleagues Gurudas Kamath, Madhusudan Mistry, Randeep Surjewala, K Raju, Deepender Hooda, Sachin Pilot, Shakeel Ahmed and Kuljit Nagra. Farmers from Bhatta Parsaul, from where Rahul launched his land agitation in 2011, were also present.

Around noon came the dramatic moment when Rahul walked out of the gate of his fortified bungalow, with farmers pressing against the barricades to have a word with him.

As they railed against the land bill and crop losses, some touching Rahul's head to bless him and others addressing him as "chaudhary Rahul", news channels beamed his back-to-work footage around the country.

For the heir apparent, the centrestage at the protest-rally on Sunday would complete a post-sabbatical relaunch, with a sense of relief in Congress that "issues" are finally overtaking the controversies. Amid rising expectations from Rahul, who is likely to take over the reins soon, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh refuted suggestions that it's a final chance for the young leader to prove his mettle. "There is nothing like a make or break," he told reporters.

The pro-farmer positioning of Congress seeks to heighten the contrast with BJP that it accuses of being pro-rich, a theme that the party hopes can revive its fortunes with the vast rural populace.

Not for nothing, Congress has clubbed the contentious land law with "inadequate compensation" for crop loss and Centre's refusal to give a substantial hike in support price to target the government. All three issues are likely to figure in Rahul and Sonia's speeches at the rally.

An eager Congress pulled out all stops to make the rally a success, for a big crowd can sow the seeds of doubts in the minds of a determined BJP regime.

Though the harvest season is seen as bad timing for the rally, a point raised by a UP farmers' leader during interaction with Rahul, the AICC managers are confident.

Haryana and Rajasthan have been tasked with bulk of mobilization besides Delhi and Western UP.

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