Rahul Gandhi visits family of late Dalit farmer-scientist Dadaji Ramaji Khobragade

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited the family of the late Dalit farmer-scientist Dadaji Ramaji Khobragade, who passed away on June 3. A resident of Naagbhid village in Nanded Taluka of Chandrapur district, Dadaji had developed nine varieties of rice, the most famous being the HMT variety.

Gandhi was accompanied by Congress state unit president Ashok Chavan, leader of Opposition in state assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. The Congress President handed over Rs. 8.5 lakh to Khobragade's family members.

While interacting with the farmers he came down heavily on NDA Government and said that it is looting poor by raising fuel prices and is transferring the money to a handful of rich people. Ridiculing 'Saaf Neeyat Sahi Vikas' campaign of NDA Government, Gandhi said, "neither these people have good intentions nor can they bring in development. They only can deliver hollow promises.'

Pointing it out that Nirav Modi fled with Rs 35 thousand crores, Gandhi said that this money is equivalent to the money required for rural employment guarantee scheme for one year. Gandhi said that the same money could have been provided to farmers instead, however, the PM is not concerned about farmers but 15 select big industrialists who are marketing for him. He also said that Modi government has waived loans worth Rs. 2.5 lakh crores of these industrialists but did not waive farmer's loans.