Rahul's 'padyatra': Hope Central, state govt. will acknowledge farmers' issues, says Congress

The Congress on Friday expressed hope that party vice president Rahul Gandhi's 'kisaan padyatra' in Telangana will lead the Centre and the state government to acknowledge the farmers' plight across the nation.

"This 'padyatra' is very important for the people of Telangana. The farmers, the workers and the party workers are extremely motivated to see him. A lot of people have gathered here and we feel that today would be an important day. We will raise the issue and I hope that the Central government and the state government pay attention to this crisis," Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi told ANI here.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh pulled up the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for failing to waive farmers' loans, as they had promised.

"The way the condition of the paddy farmers is deteriorating, they have not got adequate minimum support price (MSP) and fertilizers in time, their loan in increasing... The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had promised to let go their loan, but they couldn't do it," Singh said.

"Suicides are taking place and our Prime Minister has no time to spare from his foreign trips, and Chief Minister from fulfilling his own dreams. That is why Rahul Gandhi is visiting villages, meeting poor people and families who are reeling under tough circumstances," he added.

Gandhi will undertake a 15-kilometre long 'kisaan padyatra' from Nirmal in the Adilabad district of Telangana today and meet the families of the farmers who have committed suicide.

He arrived at Nirmal on a two-day visit to the state, late last night.

Rahul had earlier raised farmers' issues in the Parliament and also reached out to farmers in Punjab and the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.