Congress Vice President today visited the drought struck area of Anantapur- infamous for farmer suicides in Andhra Pradesh
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the amendments to the land acquisition bill during his visit to the drought struck area of Anantapur- infamous for farmer suicides in Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Gandhi said, "The same way PM wants land from the farmers, he wants to take away the right of special status of this state."
The 45-year-old Congress leader met family members of farmers who committed suicide; he blamed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), and Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) for the crisis.
Anantapur has witnessed over 60 farmer suicides since TDP came to power in 2014.
Mr Gandhi said, "I can fully understand the intention of PM, but what I can't understand is the intention of the CM of this state and opposition of this state. Narendra Modi should speak out and Union Ministers must visit farmer's families."
One of the farmers who committed suicide was 46-year-old Harinath Reddy, who had 10 acres of agricultural land, but was under a debt of Rs 15 lakh due to continuous failure of crops for the past seven years. His wife, two children and paralysed mother sold off two family houses to pay off a portion of the loan after his death.
The 15-year-old son of the dead farmer, Monish Kumar Reddy told NDTV, "We had a lot of debt which we couldn't pay off. Father committed suicide by hanging himself. We didn't get help from any government while he was alive."
Early last year, the chief minister had promised to waive off loans for farmers if voted to power, but so far the promise remains largely unfulfilled. Though all political parties are now rushing out with promise of financial aid to select families, relief is still far off for the farmers of Anantpur.