Rahul Gandhi In Bundelkhand, Says PM Should Show Empathy For Farmers

Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh: Holding a 'padyatra' in drought-hit Bundelkhand, Rahul Gandhi today took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he should think about farmers and labourers too and not just industrialists.

The Congress vice president said the PM should also show empathy for the farmers who are providing "the food you eat".

Addressing villagers during his nearly seven-kilometre-long foot-march, he demanded that some of the money saved by the government due to decline in crude oil prices be diverted to the region.

"Yesterday, we saw Modiji becoming emotional (while expressing grief over the suicide by a dalit scholar Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad University)...he paused during his speech (at BBAU convocation) and had tears in his eyes...I want to say Modiji the food you eat, the pulse which is today selling at Rs 220 is provided to you by farmers," he said.

"I would ask Modiji to think a little for the farmers, labourers and the poor because they too run the country and it is not only industrialists who do so. So, think about them as well," Mr Gandhi said.

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Promising people of Bundelkhand that he would highlight their problems in Parliament, Mr Gandhi said he has been speaking on all these issues and voicing concern over farmers' plight during his padyatra in other parts of the country as well.

Rahul also congratulated partymen "for standing alongside the farmers and labourers and fighting for them".

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The party vice president tried to understand the situation prevailing in the region, he said.

Party workers briefed Rahul on condition of dalits and tribals in Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhattarpur and Damoh districts.

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Mr Gandhi also asked them to send a report on the state of affairs in the region to him, state Congress secretary Nitin Chaturvedi said.