JEYPORE/BHUBANESWAR: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday assured the cyclone affected farmers of Koraput district that his party will put pressure on the Centre for providing quick and maximum assistance to them.
Interacting with Hud Hud affected farmers at Jeypore, Rahul said the Congress will raise the issue in Lok Sabha to ensure that they get adequate assistance and relief. “I have come here personally to see the damage caused by the cyclone so that the matter can be raised strongly,” he said.
Congress leaders in the State have also been asked to raise the issue in the Assembly to ensure that the required assistance is provided by the Government to the farmers affected by the calamity.
Stating that he interacted with the farmers and discussed their plight, Rahul said the farmers complained that they are yet to get total compensation and assistance though their standing crops perished.
The Congress vice-president criticised the State Government for neglecting relief and rehabilitation measures in the affected areas. Launching a frontal attack, Rahul said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik did not visit the affected areas and instead reviewed the situation from office. “Government machinery should be engaged to solve the problems of the affected people on a priority basis,” he said.
Rahul also met affected farmers from Kotpad, Borrigumma, Kundra, Boipariguda and discussed with them the damage to sugarcane, paddy and corn crops. Over 10,000 farmers of different areas attended the meeting.
Among others, AICC general secretary in-charge of Odisha BK Hariprasad, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Jaydev Jena, Leader of the Opposition Narsingh Mishra, Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, former MP Pradip Majhi and Kotpad MLA Chandra Sekhar Majhi were present.
Later, Rahul visited different areas of Pottangi and Laxmipur blocks of the district that were battered by cyclone Hud Hud. He also made an aerial survey of the affected areas in Malkangiri and Chitrakonda blocks including the Bonda hills.
Elaborate security arrangements were made for Gandhi’s visit to the Maoist affected Laxmipur and Pottangi areas.