Rahul Gandhi arrives in Nagpur for his Vidarbha 'padyatra'

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi arrived here tonight for a day-long 'padyatra' tomorrow to highlight the agrarian crisis in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, where several farmers have committed suicide.

Rahul was accorded a grand welcome by party activists, including women, who shouted slogans hailing him.

The Congress leader landed at the Nagpur Airport around 10 pm, about 40 minutes behind schedule, even as a stampede-like situation prevailed outside the airport with party workers jostling each other to greet him.

Police had a tough time controlling the enthusiastic workers and a few barricades erected were broken in the melee.

The 44-year-old Amethi MP accepted garlands and bouquets from Congress leaders and activists before getting into a car.

Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan, former MP Vilas Muttemwar, ex-Minister Anees Ahmed and Nagpur city Congress chief Vikas Thakre, among others, received Rahul at the airport.

The Congress leader later left for Ravi Bhavan, a state government guest house, where he will be spending the night. He will leave for Amravati, about 160km from here, tomorrow.

Rahul will start his 15km 'padyatra' (foot march) tomorrow morning from Gunji village in Amravati district. He will also visit Rajana and Tonglabad villages in the district.

He will discuss with farmers and families of those who committed suicide about the agrarian crisis and also ways to help them tide over the problem.

The 'padyatra' is part of Rahul's programme to reach out to the farmers in distress in various states.

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