Mumbai, Jul 9: If Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was so concerned about farmers' land issues and their harassment, he should visit Jaitapur in Maharashtra and lead the agitation of the local farmers and fishermen against the proposed nuclear power plant there, Shiv Sena said today.
“Rahul should visit Jaitapur and lead the agitation. We will also join in,” Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said.
“Rahul has waged an agitation against the Mayawati government, saying that farmers' lands cannot be acquired by force. He has also undertaken padyatras. This is nothing but a farce by Rahul and Congress,” Uddhav said.
“All this is a political nautanki (drama),” the Sena leader said.
Shiv Sena has backed the local people's agitation against the nuclear power project in Jaitapur, in coastal Ratnagiri district.
Despite the Jaitapur project being against farmers' interests, lands were being acquired by force and the government was firing upon farmers and fishermen who opposed it, Uddhav said.
“On one hand, you undertake padyatra for farmers in Uttar Pradesh, and on the other, take farmers' lives here. Stop this drama. If you have courage, fight for Jaitapur farmers. We will leave political differences aside and join you,” Uddhav said.
Sena leader's comments came after Rahul Gandhi addressed a Kisan Mahapanchayat, capping his 70-km foot march through the villages of Greater Noida and Aligarh and rejected the criticism that it was a “drama”. PTI
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