In an apparent bid to broaden his base, Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel on Friday made a strong pitch for farmers vowing to "fight strongly for their rights" in Gujarat and other states. "A lot of injustice has been meted to farmers in this country. We have to fight for their rights. We will fight strongly. Gujarat is my turf but I will reach out to other states as well.
"Today is the birth anniversary of both Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri but people have forgotten Shastri. Nobody remembers his slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan," Patel said addressing a 'Maha Kisan Panchayat' here.
Patel attacked the ruling classes for politicizing issues concerning the peasantry and urged farmers to unite in their bid to ensure they are respected. "I will only say you feed the entire country. If someone tries to fool you, answer their bricks with stones. Give them a befitting reply. Only then there will be talk about farmers' respect, ensuring their welfare," he said. On the issue Delhi farmers, he said that lands acquired for developmental purposes be returned to them if the plots remain unused. "We are going to fight for their rights to see their lands are returned if they are not being used. Whenever you (developers) will need land, you can come back to us. But for now, give it back to land-owning farmers," he said.
Expressing concern over farmers' suicides, he asked the peasants to promise him that they would not give up and fight until their last breath. "I will also urge women working in agrarian sector to don the role of Rani Laxmibai to fight for their pride and respect," Patel said. The Panchayat was attended by leaders of various farmers' bodies from 20 states, besides Patel.
Patel criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the memorial of Lal Bahadur Shastri here on the late leader's birth anniversary and said "it is very sad he (Modi) did not turn up here. He has insulted Shastri (by not visiting Vijay Ghat)," Patel said.
