Kannur (Kerala): Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, launched a scathing attack on the central government, alleging that its current policies are systematically destroying the foundation of the country’s agriculture.
Addressing a farmers’ conference in Peravoor, Kannur, Rahul Gandhi called the new trade agreement with the United States a ‘death warrant’ for Indian farmers. He criticized the decision to open the Indian market to agricultural produce grown in the United States on a large scale using machine-based technology. The Congress leader termed it a ‘criminal act’. Speaking on the trade deal with the United States, Rahul Gandhi further said that no other Indian Prime Minister had ever dared to enter into such an agreement. He further alleged that the deal, which was delayed by four months, was signed after Donald Trump allegedly threatened the Indian leadership, demonstrating that those in power were sacrificing the interests of farmers for their own safety. He compared the impact of the new contract to using a JCB to uproot the country’s roots.
In his speech, Rahul Gandhi expressed serious concerns about parliamentary democracy. He stated that, for the first time in the history of the Indian Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition was not given a chance to respond during the Motion of Thanks debate. He claimed that his speech was interrupted because the government feared he would reveal the “Epstein Secret Files,” which he claimed contain 3.5 million documents.
Rahul Gandhi stated that he intended to discuss with the Prime Minister very serious matters related to the nexus between the administration and big business. He alleged that Gautam Adani is not just an industrialist but a major source of funding for both the BJP and the Prime Minister, creating a situation where the billionaire could allegedly threaten the Prime Minister with the disclosure of sensitive documents.
He stressed that for India to become a truly developed country, farmers must be treated with respect and receive a fair Minimum Support Price (MSP). Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived at Mattannur Airport around 11:00 am as part of his visit to Kerala. The visit included laying the foundation stone for houses built by the Congress Party for landslide victims in Wayanad.
From the airport, he took a helicopter to the Jimmy George Stadium at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in Peravoor and then spoke at the Thundiyil Parish Hall. During the visit, he listened to the complaints of farmers in the Peravoor constituency, which is severely affected by wild animal attacks.
Noting that the area includes the Kottiyoor and Aralam Wildlife Sanctuaries, Gandhi said that crop destruction and threats to life from wild animals have become a daily occurrence. He explained that elephant walls and electric fences built during Oommen Chandy’s UDF government are no longer effective, as wild animals continue to enter human settlements.
During extensive discussions with representatives of rubber, cashew, and coconut farmers from various panchayats, including Iritty Municipality, Aralam, and Kottiyoor, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need for modern technology to reduce human-animal conflict.
He reminded Congress leaders that if the UDF government comes to power in Kerala, there should be no room for farmers’ grievances. The discussion also touched on the recent declaration of Aralam as a butterfly sanctuary and the subsequent difficulties faced by the people there. Reiterating his promise, Rahul Gandhi pledged the Congress Party’s full support to the ongoing struggles of the farming community before concluding his visit.
