Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the State, on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik have reached a compromise over the chit fund scam and the farmers of the State are forced to commit suicide.
"As you know, there is a chit fund scam in the State. A compromise was struck and friendship grew between Modiji and Naveenji," he said after launching a Krushak Banchao Padayatra at Debahal in Bargarh district.
Gandhi said farmers are committing suicide in Odisha due to crop loss, lack of irrigation, fertiliser and minimum support price for their produce.
The farmers' plight has mounted as the NDA Government has stopped most of the farmer welfare schemes launched by the UPA Government, he said.
"During the UPA rule, Odisha had received huge funds for agriculture sector but money did not reach farmers," Gandhi alleged. He said the State Government has not been able to provide required assistance to the farmers.
The Congress leader cautioned both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister about the consequences of suppressing the voice of farmers, labourers and dalits to benefit corporate houses.
"The Modi Government is a Government of industrialists and capitalists and keen in safeguarding their interest only," alleged Rahul.
Gandhi said the industrial houses have taken away mines and forests but failed to give people anything in return in the State.
Earlier, Gandhi spent three minutes in the house of a deceased farmer, Sanand Kathar of Debahal village in Bargarh district. Sanand had committed suicide recently allegedly due to crop loss and loan burden.
"Your voice will be raised in the Parliament. The negligence to farmers in Odisha is surely a matter of concern," Rahul was quoted as telling the father and brother of deceased Sananda.
However, the family members told news reporters that Rahul didn't give them any specific assurance.
Rahul told Sananda's son, an ITI pass-out, that the Congress would launch a movement before the district administration to ensure him a job from the Government, if required.
Rahul sees Modi-Naveen deal over chit fund scam Rahul too met different Mahila Sanghathans, SC and ST people at latherpali. He visited Attabira College to meet students and teachers and heard from them their problems.
As per schedule, Gandhi would visit Cuttack Sishu Bhawan on Friday morning and from there he would come to Bhubaneswar to attend a programme of social activists.