NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi is back, will address a farmers rally on Sunday, his first public address after the 46-day leave. The Congress vice-president met few representatives of the farmers at his residence on Saturday, a day ahead of the rally. Motive was to understand their problem and listen from directly them.
Congress high command does not want to take a risk. All MLAs and candidates who fought last elections but lost, have been asked to bring at least two bus-load of farmers to the rally from Punjab, Haryana, UP and other states close to Delhi.
However, untimely rain and harvesting season still going on, Congress managers are finding it tough to get farmers on board. With untimely rain and delayed harvesting season, farmers are not willing spend for the rally. But the party leaders have not yet given up their hopes.
Congress refused the charges and said: “We are not promising any money to those going for the rally. But we have provided for two boxes of liquor per bus,” said a Congress leader who spoke on condition of anonymity to Hindustan Times.
The expenses for each bus to ferry farmers from Punjab would add up to anywhere between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000, including the cost of hiring the vehicle, fuel, food and “drinks”.
The arrangements on-board the buses promised by some leaders range from free lunch to free “drinks”
