UP: Rahul in Bundelkhand, says PM should show empathy for farmers

Mahoba (UP): Making light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi getting "emotional" while expressing grief over suicide by a Dalit scholar in Hyderabad university, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday 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.

"During the UPA regime, price of crude petroleum was USD 150 per barrel, whereas now it has fallen to just USD 28. A lot of money saved here can be used for development of such backward regions like Bundelkhand," he said.