Hubballi: The Congress party launched a damage control exercise following a report in Deccan Chronicle that a maize field was destroyed to facilitate the erection of a temporary stage for the public function of AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi on October 10.
Trying to downplay the controversy, KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar said the land belongs to the relatives of local legislator K.B. Koliwad, who hails from Gudagur village where the Congress convention is being held after the 6.5 km padayatra from Maidur village by Rahul Gandhi on Saturday. Denying any pressure by the Congress on villagers to remove their crop, he said that the farmers have cleared their land voluntarily for the function and parking facility.
"We have not destroyed the crop of farmers for the public function of Rahul Gandhi. Moreover, farmers have removed the crop on their own as it has reached the harvesting stage", said Dr Parameshwar after inspecting the venue and other preparations for the padayatra and public convention on Wednesday. Former minister and MLA K.B. Koliwad, who accompanied the Congress leader, claimed that he has not caused any harm to farmers by forcing them to clear their land.
He claimed that the Congress party is holding the programme to counter Raitha Chaithanya Yathra being undertaken by the BJP. Reacting over Mahadayi water dispute, he said the Congress will allow protesters of Kalasa Banduri project to meet Mr Gandhi and express their grievances.
