Rahul Gandhi begins 'kisaan padyatra' in Telangana

Nirmal, Telangana: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday kicked off his 15-km padyatra from Koritical village in Adilabad district to highlight the problems faced by farmers.

On a tour of villages which have witnessed a number of suicides hit by the agrarian distress, the 44-year-old Amethi MP visited the family of Velma Rajeshwar, who had ended his life due to debt burden.

He also met the family of another farmer, who allegedly committed suicide and gave his wife a cheque of Rs 1 lakh.

The padyatra and interaction with farmer families will continue through Laxmanchanda, Pottupalli, Rachapur and Vadial in Laxmanchanda mandal until late afternoon.

Read: Rahul in Telangana: 24-hour party begins for Nirmal residents

Telangana Congress leaders said Gandhi's visit and his foot march in solidarity with the farmers would instill a sense of confidence among them.

The main Opposition Congress, TDP and BJP allege that hundreds of farmers have committed suicide due to the agrarian distress in Telangana since the TRS Government assumed office in June last, a charge denied by the state administration.

The ruling TRS, meanwhile, said the Congress should not play politics on farmer issues. "A democratic country like India needs a strong Opposition. Rahul Gandhi and Congress should focus on issues that don't backfire on them. Selective amnesia will not serve their interests," TRS MP K Visweswar Reddy said in a statement.

The Congress Vice-President had earlier visited Punjab and Maharashtra, where he interacted with farmers and undertook padyatras. He has taken on the Modi Government inside and outside Parliament on the land Bill..