A day after claiming in the Parliament that the government has "sold Bharat Mata" through the India-US interim trade deal and alleged that the interests of the farmers have been compromised, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reiterated the claim on Thursday and assured that he and the entire Congress party stand with farmers.
In a video address, the Congress leader continued his claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sold out the country and the farmers.
"You can file a case against me, abuse me and do whatever you have to. Bring a Privilege Motion against me. It doesn't matter. I have spoken the truth in Parliament. It is a different matter if you do not like it. The country can understand the truth," he said.
Even as BJP member Nishikant Dubey during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha on Thursday, Dubey alleged that Gandhi was hand-in-glove with anti-national forces, the Congress leader said he"will not step back even an inch" come what may.
"...I stand with farmers. We will not let this injustice take place," the Congress leader said.
He said, "By striking a deal with the US, he has sold out cotton farmers, soya farmers, apple farmers and fruit farmers. For years, people from foreign countries have been trying to capture the agri-market of India. Narendra Modi ji has opened the gates for them."
Gandhi alleged that PM Modi did this because there is "chockhold around his neck," and aid, "Donald Trump has the reins of Narendra Modi in his hands. Maize, cotton, soybean and fruits are just the beginning; Modi will open the gates to the entire agri-market, for his friends, for people like Adani and Ambani, for external forces."
Gandhi pointed out that, in contrast to American farmers who have thousands of acres of farmland and use mechanised farming methods, Indian farmers have small farms, do not get the proper MSP, and there is nothing like mechanisation. "Narendra Modi has sold out the country, sold out the farmers," he claimed.
"The country can understand the truth. You can do whatever you want. I stand with farmers. I will not step back even an inch," the Congress leader said.