Congress to fight for help to cyclone-hit farmers in Odisha: Rahul Gandhi

KORAPUT (ODISHA): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today said the party would mount pressure on the Centre to ensure maximum and quick assistance to farmers hit hard by cyclone Hudhud in south Odisha.

"I have come here to get a first hand account of the damage caused by the cyclone and learn about the plight and sufferings of farmers whose crops were ruined," Gandhi said during an interaction with cyclone-hit farmers at Jeypore.

Describing farmers as the backbone of economy, the Amethi MP said the peasants had suffered maximum loss due to the cyclone and Congress would fight for them to put pressure and ensure maximum assistance from the Centre.

"We'll raise the issue in Lok Sabha and ensure that the distressed farmers get proper assistance and relief. I have come here personally to see with my own eyes the damage caused by the cyclone so that he matter can be raised properly," he said.

Stating that he interacted with the farmers and discussed about their plight, the Congress leader said the farmers complained that proper compensation and assistance was yet to reach them though their standing crops perished.

Party leaders in the state had also been asked to raise the issue in the Assembly to ensure that the required assistane was provided by the state government to the farmers affected by the calamity, Gandhi said.

Rahul, accompanied by AICC general secretary in-charge of Odisha B K Hariprasad and OPCC President Jaydev Jena, also visited cyclone affected areas in Laxmipur and Pottangi blocks in Koraput district.

Asserting that Congress would fight for ensuring justice to the cyclone-affected people, Gandhi said the matter would be taken up effectively at the central as well as state level.