Farmers' protest: Rahul Gandhi speaks with injured farmer

Rahul Gandhi. Pic/PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday spoke over the phone with a farmer who was injured during police action at the Shambhu border near Ambala during farmers' protest, reported news agency PTI.

During his visit to a hospital in Rajpura, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring arranged a conversation between Rahul Gandhi and the farmer over a mobile phone. The farmer was admitted to the hospital, reported PTI.

Rahul Gandhi asked the injured farmer where all he sustained injuries, and the farmer replied that he had sustained wounds on his hands and near his eye.

Farmers on Tuesday had clashed with the Haryana Police at two border points between the states, facing tear gas and water cannons as they tried to break past barricades blocking farmers' protest march to the national capital.

The former Congress president also asked the farmer how many protestors sustained injuries in the police action, reported PTI.

When the farmer, who was an ex-serviceman, explained about the police action, Rahul Gandhi said, "it is completely wrong," reported PTI.

"We are with you. Don't worry," Rahul Gandhi told the farmer, reported PTI.

"You are fighting for what is important for the country. You earlier worked for the country and you are doing it now as well. 'Shabash' (Well done). Best of luck," Rahul Gandhi told the farmer, reported PTI.

Farmer leaders on Tuesday blamed the Centre for the "attack" on protesters marching towards Delhi and claimed that 60 of them were injured as police used tear gas shells at Punjab-Haryana border points.

Twenty-four police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured as protesters hurled stones at them during farmers' protest, officials said.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation to put pressure on the Centre for their demands, including a law on minimum support price for crops and loan waivers, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, security remained tight in the national capital Wednesday in view of the farmers' 'Dilli Chalo' march, with personnel deployed in huge numbers and barricades regulating movement in central Delhi and at border points with Haryana, causing hardships to commuters, reported PTI.

The traffic movement at Singhu (Delhi-Sonipat) and Tikri borders (Delhi-Bahadurgarh) is suspended, an official said, adding the security personnel in anti-riot gears are deployed and drones being used to keep an eye on the situation.

Multiple layers of barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and container walls have been placed at Singhu and Tikri borders with Haryana as well as at the Ghazipur border with Uttar Pradesh.

(With inputs from PTI)