Sonia Gandhi to reach out to Punjab farmers

NEW DELHI: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is likely to tour Punjab villages next week to take stock of crop loss due of unseasonal rains, persisting with the offensive on the farmers' front with BJP as the target.

Coming after her tour last week to Rajasthan and Haryana, the unexpected Punjab visit is part of the plan to position Congress as farmer-friendly at a time when the community across states is seeking damages for what is seen as an unprecedented loss because of weather. Sources said Punjab could be followed by visits to a couple of other states.

Sonia will also meet farmers on her constituency visit to Amethi and Rae Bareli on Saturday.

The significance of village travels is that the Congress chief is only touring states ruled by BJP and allies to take the offensive to the rival's camp.

Congress will fight for farmers' relief, Sonia Gandhi says.

Congress is aiming to chip away at the Centre's standing with the rural, farmer populace, a key constituent that overwhelmingly voted for BJP in the Lok Sabha polls after having stood with the opposition outfit. The crop loss aggression is in sync with the Congress offensive on the land acquisition bill that the party is campaigning against, accusing the BJP government of diluting it at the cost of farmers to help corporate houses.

As part of the strategy, a farmers' rally has been planned in the capital and it may be held in the second week of April. Sources said the show, to be presided over by Sonia with possible participation of Rahul, would bring farmers from across the country to Ramlila Maidan to intensify the campaign against the land bill.

Sources said the campaign would get a further boost if the Centre reissues the ordinance on land bill as it would again be an issue in the second leg of the budget session when Parliament resumes later in April.