RAIPUR: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said the weaker sections, including dalits and adivasis, are being crushed for raising their voices against injustice.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got an opportunity to ensure relief to farmers as they need immediate compensation against crop loss caused due to heavy rainfall and hailstorm.
Addressing reporters at Swami Vivekanand airport here this evening, Gandhi, who was on a day-long tour of Chhattisgarh, demanded that central teams be sent to different states to assess the loss caused to farmers due to natural calamity and they should be benefited as early as possible.
"It is very sad that we raised this issue in Parliament but discussion was not allowed over it. I want the government to fulfil the demands of farmers," he said.
Gandhi alleged that not only in Chhattisgarh but in the entire country, farmers, adivasis, dalits and other weaker sections are being suppressed.
"Wherever they wanted to raise their voices, they are being crushed. Adivasis are being suppressed, crushed and killed in the entire country.
"Every Adivasi is not a Maoist. Adivasis of India are patriots and they should not be crushed like this," he said while responding to a query on alleged killings of tribals by branding them as naxals in Chhattisgarh.
The Congress vice-president visited Giroudpuri Dham, a popular pilgrimage centre of scheduled tribe Satnami community in Balodabazar district, as part of his state tour.
Before leaving for Delhi, Gandhi met with a delegation of Congress leaders from Bastar, including MLAs who have alleged that law and order situation in the area was deteriorating and have raised the plight of tribals.
Gandhi said he assured the delegation that Congress will fight for the rights of tribals.
On the loss incurred by farmers due to natural calamity, Gandhi said, "Owing to heavy rainfall in northern belt (of the country), farmers have faced a severe loss. This region had also witnessed hailstorm. (Prime Minister) Modi ji has said he wanted to work for farmers.
"Modi ji had promised that he wanted to correct his mistakes. Now he has got an opportunity to ensure relief to farmers at the earliest. Farmers should be provided compensation," he said.
On the notice issued to him by the Ethics Committee of Parliament over allegations related to declaration of his citizenship in the UK, Gandhi said, "BJP has the habit of telling lies. We will deal with it (the notice) in Parliament.
I have not come here to do politics but to pay my obeisance and I felt good here".
When asked about the status of state Congress' proposal to AICC to expel senior party leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi over the leaked audio tapes row, Gandhi said, "The matter is pending with disciplinary committee of the party and is under consideration".
Earlier, Gandhi visited Giroudpuri, located around 130kms away from the state capital, which is the birth place of Satnami Saint Guru Ghasidas. He also visited the temple of Guru Ghasdas and paid obeisance there.
Gandhi was accompanied by AICC general secretary and Chhattisgarh in-charge BK Hariprasad, treasurer Motilal Vora, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and other senior leaders during his visit to Giroudpuri.
Meanwhile, a minor scuffle broke out between some Congress leaders and supporters of Ajit Jogi in Giroudpuri, which was brought under control.