Bhubaneswar, Sept 7: In a bid to strengthen party in Orissa, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is slated to lead a ‘‘save farmers’ march’’ in Bargarh district during his two-day visit to state starting September 10.
‘‘Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to embark upon a two-day visit to Orissa September 10 and 11 for which a series of programmes have been lined up,’’ Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichandan said Monday.
In view of the suicide of several farmers in western Orissa recently due to alleged debt-burden, Gandhi would lead an agitation September 10 aimed at saving the distressed farmers in the region and would meet the families of those farmers who had recently committed suicide, the PCC chief said.
‘‘Rahul will lead a Chasi Banchao Padyatra the same day in Bargarh district, which is witnessing farmers’ suicides. He will interact with tribal and women farmers and listen to their problems during the 7-km march,’’ he said.
In view of the drought like situation, mainly in western Orissa where farmers were committing suicide due to crop loss and debt burden, the ‘’save farmer march’’ was being held to emphasise the urgent need to save the distressed peasants, Harichandan said.
The march would highlight the failure of the government in the state and at the Centre in bringing succour to farmers, he said.
On the second day of his visit (Sept 11), Rahul will visit Sishu Bhavan at Cuttack where a large number of infants died recently due to alleged negligence in treatment and inadequacies in infrastructure at the premier referral hospital, the OPCC chief said adding, he was slated to attend a meeting of state party leaders, besides taking part in a workshop on social justice.
Rahul is scheduled to meet people who have been affected by the multi-crore ponzi scam as they have lost their investments in various ponzi companies, he said.
Harichandan said Gandhi’s visit was expected to play a significant role in rejuvenating the party in the state. PTI