Rahul Gandhi meets deceased farmer's family

BATHINDA: Rahul Gandhi today said Congress would root out the weeds in the form of the Akali-BJP combine as he met the family of the farmer who committed suicide after suffering losses in the white fly attack here last month.

The Congress Vice President charged that the present Punjab government was responsible for the plight of the farmers in the state and said "good times are on the anvil".

Assuring all possible help to the family of farmer Jagdev Singh Bogad (65) who committed suicide, Gandhi said his party "was all out to help those in need and root out the weeds in form of Akali-BJP combine".

Mukhtiar Singh, son of deceased Jagdev Singh, told Gandhi that they own five acres of land and had taken 6 acres on contract, but owing to the whitefly attack, they suffered losses.

Rahul had earlier slammed the Parkash Singh Badal government for failing to find a solution to the problems of farmers.

After visiting the family, Rahul started his 'padyatra' from village Bhukhianwali to Malwala.

Paddy procurement is under process in Punjab.

Bathinda is the cotton belt of the state and farmers had suffered huge losses here due to whitefly attack on their crop.