Bengaluru: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will make a stop-over in Bengaluru on Thursday before kickstarting his padayatra in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka Congress leaders including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar and cabinet ministers are likely to brief him in detail on the issue of farmers’ suicides.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior minister disclosed that Mr Sidddaramaiah has already sought details of all cases of suicides from deputy commissioners and superintendents of police. “Apart from this, the entire situation pertaining to farmers’ suicides will be explained to him. The CM and Dr Parameshwar had asked Agriculture minister, Krishna Byre Gowda, Revenue minister, V. Srinivasprasad and other ministers concerned to brief him,” the source explained.
The minister added that Mr Gandhi had a tight schedule as the Anantapur padayatra was fixed almost a month ago, so state leaders will have to be content with the briefing alone. Sources said Mr Gandhi will reach the city by 7.30 pm on Thursday and leave for Anantapur Friday morning. In spite of the state witnessing over 70 farmers’ suicides in the last three weeks, he is unlikely to visit any of the villages.
The opposition BJP has been mocking him over the selective visits of Mr Gandhi to non-Congress states when states like Karnataka which is ruled by the Congress have witnessed a high number of farmers’ suicides.
