RaGa begins padyatra in AP's Anantpur

Finally there were signs of life in the dormant Congress party in Andhra Pradesh as party vice-president Rahul Gandhi came on his maiden visit since the bifurcation of the State and undertook a padyatra to meet the distressed farmers and rural women folk in the drought-hit Anantapur district on Friday.

Rahul’s visit brought together leaders of the Congress who were hardly seen since the party met with a crushing defeat in last year’s elections in the aftermath of the State’s division, as people turned against the Congress holding it responsible for the bifurcation. The Congress, which does not have a single member in the State Assembly, is yet to resurrect itself here.

Apart from the State Congress president N Raghuveera Reddy, former Union Minister and film star Chiranjeevi, T Subbirami Reddy, Panabaka lakshmi, Pallam Raju, JD Seelam and several other leaders were there to receive Rahul Gandhi as he crossed the Karnataka border to enter Anantapur district. Rahul was accompanied by party general secretary Digvijay Singh.

Rahul started his ten km-long padyatra at Obuladevarachervvu village and met the farmers and member of women’s self help group and interacted with them regarding the problems they were facing.“Congress is there to fight for the farmers, weavers and women”, he said, addressing a public meeting at Obuladevarachervvu village. He urged the farmers not to lose hope. His padyatra in Anantapur was part of the tour he was undertaking in different States across the country to reassure the farmers.

lashing out at the Narendra Modi Government, he said that it was trying to amend the land Acquisition Act surreptitiously. “We had brought this Act to ensure that no land is acquired against the wishes of the farmers and if their lands were acquired farmers and the farm labourers should also benefit from it”, he said. “Because of our opposition, Centre is forced to reconsider the land Bill”.

Rejecting the charge that the Congress had harmed the interest of AP, he said that the party was ready to fight for the special status for the State and national project status for Polavaram. “I am asking why the TDP and the YSRCP are not putting pressure on the Centre on these issues”, he said. However, Rahul Gandhi’s visit has evoked a sharp reaction both from the ruling TDP and the Opposition YSRCP. State Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu said the people of the State will never forget the injustice done by the Congress to the State. “Rahul Gandhi has no right to talk about Polavaram project”, he said.