Rahul in Bundelkhand, says PM should show empathy for farmers

Making light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi getting "emotional" while expressing grief over suicide by a dalit scholar in Hyderabad university, Rahul Gandhi today said the PM should also show empathy for farmers.
"Yesterday, we saw Modiji becoming emotional...He paused during his speech (at BBAU convocation) and had tears in his eyes...I want to say Modiji the food you eat, the pulse which is today selling at Rs 220 is provided to you by farmers," he said.
"I would ask Modiji to think a little for the farmers, labourers and the poor because they too run the country and it is not only industrialists who do so. So, think about them as well," Rahul said in Mahoba, about 230 km from Lucknow.

Taking a swipe at Modi, the Congress vice president, who undertook a 'padyatra' (foot march) in drought-hit Bundelkhand, said the PM should think about labourers too and not just industrialists and give more funds for the backward region.
"In his poll promise, Modi had said all assistance would be given to every section of the society -- farmers, labourers, and the poor -- but he forgot those in Bundelkhand," he said.
"I want Modiji to come here and see for himself the plight of the farmers here," Rahul said.

Addressing villagers during his nearly seven-km-long march, he demanded that some of the money saved by the government due to big drop in crude oil prices be diverted to the region.

At a chaupal in Ladopur, the locals raised the issue of loan waiver for farmers faced with continued drought.
Responding to their concerns, Rahul said since his party was not in power, both at the Centre and in UP, it can only fight along with them in their struggle for their rights.
"When we were in power at the Centre we had waived loans and had also given a special package for Bundelkhand," he said when a woman raised the issue.
The Congress leader sought more funds for the development of the water-scarce region.
Rahul, at the same time, said the entire money saved need

not be pumped into the region, but at least a portion of it can be utilised.
Touching on the major issue of migration from this region, Rahul said had the BJP government at the Centre and the ruling SP government in UP earnestly implemented UPA government's MNREGS programme, the exodus could have been checked.
Rahul embarked on his padyatra from Pava village tri-section near Mandi Parishad. Accompanied by enthusiatic young party workers, he marched to Supa village, about two km away, to address a kisan panchayat at the sports ground.
He heard with rapt attention the farmers' woes and at all the places he promised to highlight their problems in Lok Sabha during the upcoming Budget session of Parliament.

At Ladpur village, Rahul had a brief break for a simple 'roti-sabzi' lunch at the house of a farmer Deshraj Kushwaha and relished the meal prepared by his wife.
Bundelkhand region is home to 18.3 million people as per 2011 census and is blighted with drought and unseasonable rains that has destroyed standing winter crops.
In the past few years, several farmers have committed suicide due to poor crop production in 13 districts that comprise the region.
The promised compensation by UP government has not trickled down to those who need them the most. With no money for seeds and no water for irrigation, farmers have become desperate, local leaders said.

With Opposition parties getting active in Bundelkhand region in the run up to the 2017 Assembly polls, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has said his government would make necessary efforts to address the issues the area confronts.