NCP welcomes Rahul Gandhi's 'kisan padyatra'

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Thursday said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's efforts to personally visit the farmers affected by unseasonal rains and interact with them should be praised.

Memon appreciated Gandhi's 'one-to-one' contact with the farmers with the Land Acquisition Bill being in 'active consideration'.

"It is welcome. If any important leader wants to know the ground reality by making a direct one-to-one contact by visiting the farmers and knowing their problems first hand, it is appreciated," Memon said.

"As a matter of fact, when the Land Acquisition Bill is being under active consideration, it is necessary that we all apprise ourselves with the burning problems of farmers on the ground, rather than being

driven by all kinds of statements made against each other. Therefore, in that context I believe that Rahul's effort deserves to be praised,"he added.

The NCP leader also advised politicians to take guidance from his party chief Sharad Pawar and said that the latter was familiar with 'the pulse of farmers and agriculture'.

"As a matter of fact, I would like to say that our leader, Sharad Pawar, is perhaps the best person available today in the country who knows the pulse of farmers and agriculture. And it is advisable,

desirable and in the best interest of the country and farmers that the Prime Minister and the opposition leaders should consult and take advise from such a tall leader like Sharad Pawar," he added.

Earlier today, the Congress vice-president began a day-long 'kisan padyatra' from Amravati to highlight the farmers' woes.

Gandhi would travel about 175 kilometres, including a 15-kilometre walk, through villages of Gunji and Shahapur in Dhamangaon Railway and Rajhna and Tonglabad in Chandur Railway talukas which have seen highest number of suicides this year.

He would also interact with the affected farmers and families of those who committed suicide. The Congress vice-president would discuss the agrarian crisis with them and also talks about the remedial measures required to be adopted to solve it.