Rahul, Sonia address Kisan rally: As it happened

New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who was missing from action for almost two months, led the Kisan rally at Ramlila Maidan here on Sunday against NDA government's Land Acquisition Bill.

Here are the LIVE updates:

• Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweets about the successful completion of the Kisan rally. 

Rousing finish by Congress president to a well-attended rally in defence of India's farmers. NowParliament! @INCIndia pic.twitter.com/SLstjKD5aP

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 19, 2015

• Congress has always worked for the farmers, with the farmers. I welcome you all, thank you for coming in such large numbers and encouraging us, says Manmohan Singh. 
• Former PM Manmohan Singh says the Land Bill brought by Modi is against UPA govt's Act of 2013, intention is to hurt farmers' interests.

• Sonia Gandhi finishes her speech with chants of 'Jai Hind'. 

• This energy today is what we need to fight against the injustice to farmers: Sonia Gandhi. 

• Kisan ki awaaz na dabi hai, na dabegi (Farmers' voices have never stifled, nor will they ever be stifled): Sonia Gandhi.

• NDA is conspiring against farmers by making changes in Land Acquisition act: Sonia Gandhi.

• Ab bahut ho chuka hai (enough is enough), we need to tell PM & his government they can't snatch rights of farmers, says Sonia Gandhi. 

• Congress is out of government but will fight for farmers & won't let their voice be suppressed by anyone, says Sonia.

• Modi govt is planning to buy grains from US, Australia while farmers in country are sidelined: Sonia Gandhi 

• PM Modi has completly forgot 'sabka sath sabka vikas' slogan he gave & is only supporting industrialist, adds Sonia.

• The PM who proclaimed 'sabka saath, sabka vikaas' has abandoned the farmers: Sonia Gandhi.

• Modi Sarkar's attitude is totally anti farmer and anti poor, says Sonia Gandhi. 

There is a difference between what the government says and actually does, says Sonia Gandhi.

भाजपा की कथनी और करनी में बड़ा अंतर हैं-श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी #KisaanVirodhiNarendraModi pic.twitter.com/eA4idkEq1H

— INC India (@INCIndia) April 19, 2015

• Unseasonal rain has destroyed the lives of the farmers and the Modi sarkar has done nothing: Sonia.​
• Modi Sarkar are sprinkling salt on your wounds, relief announced by Modi Sarkar for farmers affected by hailstorm is worthless: Sonia Gandhi
• States under UPA would give bonus to farmers in addition to the MSP, but Modi Sarkar has stopped that, says Sonia.
• We have come together today to tell the Modi Govt that this is enough, we wont let the farmers be ignored: Sonia Gandhi.
• I know this is harvest season, farmers spend time farmers, still you have come in large numbers. I thank you for that, says Sonia Gandhi.
• Congress president Sonia Gandhi addresses the farmers.
• Rahul Gandhi concludes his speech. I want to assure you, we will fight for you. Thank you and Jai Hind, says Rahul. 
• We don't want our farmers to become labourers and servants: Rahul Gandhi 

• We need manufacturing, we need industries but we need farmers and their children: Rahul Gandhi.

• You should understand one thing, the land is yours, you treat it as your 'Maa', the price of it will increase more than gold in coming years, says Rahul.

• NDA government has reduced the budget of Rashtriya Krishi Vikaas Yojana by 50%. Government is weakening the farmers of the country: Rahul.

• In Gujarat Model, Modi ji showed us that he can snatch land from farmers very easily: Rahul Gandhi #KisaanVirodhiNarendraModi

  — INC India (@INCIndia) April 19, 2015

  After two years of hard work when we made Land Bill of 2013, the BJP supported and applauded the Bill then. But, why have they changed it now. Instead of getting it passed through Parliament, the NDA govt is resorting to Ordinance: Rahul.

• Modi ji went to foreign countries, he said he is wiping the garbage of 50 years. I felt very sad on this. The words Modi ji spoke does not do justice to the post of PM or Modi ji himself: Rahul.

• Next time when they came if you give our land, then those 400 people which you met will become Naxalites. We fought for the farmers of Bhatta Parsaul: Rahul.

• In Niyamgiri, tribals told me about their land, our hill is our God. If industrialists take away this land-then nothing will be left for us: Rahul.

• When you approached us that farmers are facing problems to avail bank loans. Opposition asked us where will the money come for your loan waiver, Our Govt waived Rs 70000 Cr of farmer loans. We brought MNREGA for labourers. Whatever we have done, we have done for poor people, says Rahul.

• In 2013 the Bill that we had brought and is now being changed by Modi govt is a real reason for the farmers' worries: Rahul.

• Rahul Gandhi has begun his speech. Farmer of India is today scared. He scared of losing his land, he said.

• We welcome you all for supporting us to fight against this contentious Land Bill: Singh

• Congress has always worked for farmers. But, Modi government is not concerned about them. We will expose their anti-farmers policies: Manmohan Singh  

• Sonia Gandhi along with Rahul Gandhi have arrived at the venue to address the rally shortly. Former PM Manmohan Singh also present.

Farmers from Bhatta Parsaul felicitating Smt.Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh at the Kisaan Khet Mazdoor Rally pic.twitter.com/haHalndpLB

— INC India (@INCIndia) April 19, 2015

• Rahul Gandhi along with his cavalcade has left for Ramlila Maidan to address the rally.
• Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh took to Twitter and wrote that PM Modi should wake up now and should not take away the rights of farmers.

किसान रैली सभा शुरू होने के पहले ही मैदान भर गया। मोदी चेत जाओ किसान का हक़ ना छीनो। इन्होंने तुम्हे बैठाया है। pic.twitter.com/0jax1M2hDR

— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) April 19, 2015

• From Haryana state lakhs of farmers have converged upon Ramlila ground to ensure adequate pressure is mounted upon anti farmer govt, Hooda stated.
• Kisan rally is meant to put enormous pressure on BJP govt to withdraw the land ordinance that they have brought. Also adequate compensation should be provided to farmers who have suffered loss due to rains and hailstorm, Deepender Hooda told ANI.
• Congress is only party which cares for farmers,we take everyone along, says Congress leader Akhilesh Pratap Singh.
• Farmers are coming in large numbers from different states. We will solve the problems and solve issues of farmers in every possible way, Congress leader Meem Afzal told ANI.
• Congress supporters wave party flags, chant slogans in support.
• Party workers from all across the country are marching in for the Kisaan-Khet Majdoor rally.

Party workers marching in for the Kisaan-Khet Majdoor rally, New Delhi, April 19 #KisaanVirodhiNarendraModi pic.twitter.com/DCzoEPiLBr

— INC India (@INCIndia) April 19, 2015

• BJP takes jibe at Rahul's rally. Party's leader GVLN Rao told ANI that it's an attempt of Congress party to get a big hired crowd from neighbouring areas.
• Farmers are coming to Delhi through special train, which has been named 'kisan express’, to attend Rahul's rally.
• Security has been beefed up ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit. Several police personnel have been deployed to manage the large crowd. 

The Gandhi scion, who went on a 56-day long sabbatical, was accompanied by his mother and Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi and other prominent leaders of the party.

On Saturday Rahul and Rajasthan PCC Chief Sachin Pilot had met a delegation of farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh and sought their views on the changes being brought in UPA's land law by the Narendra Modi government.

A senior party functionary said that besides the rally, Rahul will also be speaking in the Lok Sabha and is expected to take on the government after the second part of the Budget session begins on Monday.

The delegation included farmers from Bhatta Parsaul village from where Rahul had launched a "padyatra" in 2011 against forcible land acquisition of farmers, a protest that had culminated in passage of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

"Rahul told farmers that he will fight a decisive battle on the issues facing them. He said that Congress will not let this fight be over in a day, a month or an year. He said that he will force the government to bow down before the farmers and he will take the fight to a logical conclusion," party leaders said.

The farmers representative also sought time from Rahul to meet again for a slide show and power point presentation on farmers' issues.

After the meeting, Rahul came out to meet hundreds of farmers waiting outside and interacted with them outside his residence for close to 40 minutes during which some of the farmers also showed him the crop damaged due to hailstorm.

Some of the old farmers were seen blessing him and hugging him as he reached out to them amid tight security.

Rahul did not speak to the large media contingent parked outside his residence.

Asked whether Rahul will raise the issue in Parliament, a Congress leader said, "Naturally. He is listening to the issues of farmers. Naturally these issues are raised. Rahul was not present during the earlier session as he was on leave. We apprehend that the Modi government will try to pass the bill to replace the land ordinance again in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

"That is why we kept the rally on the eve of the session. Rahulji strongly feels that that we will not allow farmers' interests to be compromised," Ahmed said.

(With PTI inputs)