Pinarayi Vijayan asks Rahul Gandhi to raise farmers’ plight in House

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has replied to the letter of Congress president and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi seeking a probe into the suicide of farmer V. D. Dinesh Kumar of Wayanad, pointing out that the state government has announced a moratorium on farm-loan repayment till the end of the calendar year.

Mr Vijayan also urged Mr Rahul to raise the farmers’ issue in Parliament.

The commercial banks were initiating action against farmers using the provisions of SARFAESI Act. Hence the issue can be solved only through centre intervention. The chief minister also informed Mr Rahul that he has asked the district collector to conduct an inquiry into the suicide. He also said financial assistance would be given to the family. Mr Vijayan pointed out that farmers across the country were facing difficulty in repaying agriculture loans taken from commercial banks and private moneylenders.