Rebel BJP leaders, Congress to hold farmers 'mahasammelan' tomorrow

Rajkot, Sep 13 (UNI) In the run-up to the Gujarat assembly elections, the BJP rebels and Congress have organised a farmers ''mahasammelan (convention)'' here tomorrow to expose the ''anti-farmers, anti-poor and anti-rural policies pursued by the Narendra Modi government''.

Estranged BJP MP Dr Vallabhbhai Kathiriya told UNI over phone that their main aim is to oust Narendra Modi in the forthcoming Gujarat Assembly elections.

Veteran BJP leader and former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel will not be attending the convention, he added.

Inspired by a 'good show' by rebel BJP members and Congress at Jasdan farmers convention in a parallel function few days ago, the two saids are making all-out efforts to dislodge the Narendra Modi government and once again would show their strength in tomorrow's ''mahasammelan'' despite the government refusing to provide State Transport buses to the organisors, Dr Kathiriya said.

Over five lakh people from across Saurashtra and Kutch regions will participate in the convention, Dr Kathiriya claimed, adding their main aim is to highlight the plight of the farmers in the state.'' The farmers, he said, are facing difficulties in getting power connections, the erratic power supply, and are being unduly harrassed and wrongly booked for power thefts. ''Mr Modi is functioning like a dictator,'' he claimed.

When asked whether he will be joining the Congress, Dr Kathiriya said, ''I am in the BJP. I would discuss the matter of joining the Congress or not with colleagues and take the decision accordingly.'' UNI