Rahul begins Maharashtra tour on Wednesday

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will launch a protest against the ruling central and state government during his two-day visit to the Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra, starting here on Wednesday.

State Congress president Ashok Chavan said that Gandhi will arrive in Nagpur Wednesday evening and start a padayatra (footmarch) from Amravati the following morning.

"He will launch the Congress' protest against the land acquisition bill, the problems of the farming community and other major issues during his visit here," Chavan told media.

Gandhi will tour Dhamangaon railway tehsil's Gunji and Shahapur villages, and Chandur railway tehsil's Ramgaon, Rajana and Tongalbad villages within a region of around 175 km.

The Congress leader will also undertake a 15-km-long foot-march in Amravati during the trip and is likely to visit homes of some farmers affected by unseasonal rains, drought and hailstorms in the state.

Chavan pointed out that the Amravati Division in the state notched the highest number of farmers suicides with 295 ending their lives in the first four months of this year, followed by 215 deaths in Aurangabad Division.