Congress farmer RaGa reaches Maharashtra

Mumbai: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday began a 15-kilometre day-long padyatra in Amravati district of Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region.

Maharashtra is one of the states that experienced severe agrarian crisis and Amravati division in Vidarbha region has witnessed many farmer suicides this year.

Speaking to reporters in Amravati after meeting the families of farmers who committed suicide, Congress Vice President took a dig at the Modi Government and the State Government.

Rahul said, “This government is not for the farmers or for the poor as it is for capitalists.” 

Rahul further added, “My interaction with the farmers was very disturbing. There is a feeling of being abandoned among the farmers.”

The Congress VP also said that he will fight for farmers.

During his 15 km foot march in Vidarbha region, Rahul met the family members of farmers Nilesh Walke and Ambadas Vahile who had committed suicide recently in Gunji village.

Rahul Gandhi also met the family members of Kishor Kamble, a farmer who had committed suicide, during his padyatra in Amravati.

During his foot march, Rahul sat on a jute mat at a temple in Hirapur village and gave a patient hearing to a group of marginal farmers.

The villagers alleged that “insurance companies were only selecting sample areas for giving compensation while the rest of the farmers were being deprived by them of the benefits due”.

“The insurance companies send their agents who mop up business for foreign giants as an incentive but, ultimately, it is the poor farmer who loses,” a villager, Pandurang, complained to Rahul.

Some of them said that pesticides and fertilisers were being supplied to them at high prices even though the cost of production of such items was quite less.

The villagers also drew Rahul’s attention to the damage their soya crop has suffered in the unseasonal rainfall. Soyabean prices have crashed heavily due to the damages, another farmer said.

Hailing Rahul’s initiative in opposing the Land Acquisition Bill, 2015, in Parliament, the villagers said they was apprehension that farm land would be acquired for business.

Nearly 171 farmers have committed suicide from 2006 to 2014 in Dhamangaon taluka of the district, the villagers informed the Congress leader.

Under a scorching sun, Rahul went on foot from village to village. The padyatra saw the participation of a large number of Congress workers, particularly from Youth Congress, waving the party flag, banners and posters.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reacting on Rahul Gandhi’s padyatra said, “Rahul ji has every right to meet farmers and review the situation. It’s good that he’s looking into farmers’ concerns.”

“His (Rahul) government was in power in Maharashtra for 15 years, he is also answerable for the condition of farmers in last 15 years,” Fadnavis told reporters.

(With inputs from agencies)