PM should tour drought-hit Maha, help distressed farmers: Cong

Congress in Maharashtra Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tour the drought-hit parts of the state and provide a financial assistance in the form of loan waiver to enable farmers tide over the agrarian crisis.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said if the PM just lays foundation stone of the Metro rail projects during his visit to the state next week, it would be a mockery of drought-hit farmers.

"After the electoral losses in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the BJP-led government at the Centre is reportedly planning Rs four lakh crore worth loan waiver. If this is true, the loan waiver should be given without any criteria and pre-conditions," he said.

Modi will be in the state on a day-long visit on December 18, he said.

"We want him to tour the drought-affected parts of the state and help the distressed farmers. During the 2014 election campaign, Modi had made tall promises to the farmers in the state. But after coming to power, he did not get time to inquire about their well-being.

"For the last several years, farmers in the state are facing natural calamities. They have become economically weak after facing natural calamities," Vikhe said.

A central team has surveyed the drought-affected areas of the state and the government has sought central assistance of Rs 7,000 crore.

"However the state government is yet to get the monetary aid. If the PM is coming to the state just to lay foundation stone of Metro rail projects, it will be a mockery of drought-hit farmers," he said.