Rajasthan farmers join Sachin Pilot on yatra, many ready to go all the way

Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot takes out a rally focussing on a demand for a complete farm loan waiver, purchase of crops on minimum support prices and withdrawal of Goods and Services Tax on farm equipment.

A 100-km-long yatra launched by Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot entered its second day on Wednesday as several party members and farmers joined the procession aimed at highlighting agrarian issues.

Pilot started the yatra from Baran on Tuesday, covering 14km. He spent the night at a party worker’s house in Bamla village. (HT Photo)

Pilot led the 2,500-strong march that saw local residents gathered on rooftops to catch a glimpse and Congress workers in caps and T-Shirts dancing and shouting slogans with party flags and umbrella. Alongside, small vehicles carried music systems blaring songs condemning the BJP on farm issues and demonetisation, as local folk artists sang patriotic songs, dressed in colourful attire.

The rally focused on a demand for a complete farm loan waiver, purchase of crops on minimum support prices and withdrawal of Goods and Services Tax on farm equipment, Pilot and other leaders also attacked the BJP government on demonetisation and other issues.

“Congress could have organised mere public meetings or vehicle rallies but our aim was to have direct encounter with farmers and people,” Pilot told Hindustan Times.

Pilot began the yatra at Baran on Tuesday and covered 14km on foot, spending the night at a party worker’s house in Bamla village. On Wednesday, he led the march towards Khanpur. The yatra will end on October 6 in Jhalawar, a stronghold of Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje.

When asked, a 50-year-old rural party worker named Durga Shankar said, “I am also a farmer so I am attending the rally as only the Congress has worked for farmers.”

Another farmer and Congressmen named Brijmohan (55) said, “We want complete farm loan waiver for which I will walk with Sachin Pilot for 100km from Baran to Jhalawar.”

Pilot is demanding a complete loan waiver for distressed farmers in the state. “When BJP governments in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh can waive farm loans, then why not the BJP-led Rajasthan government,” the Congress leader asked.