Maharshtra: Sonia to address farmers' rallies on Mar 17

Mumbai, Mar 17: Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi will address two farmers" rallies in Maharashtra today. Sonia will address a rally at Osmanabad in Marathwada region. Later, she will address another rally at Sangli in western Maharashtra.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar recently addressed a farmer's rally at Beed in Marathwada region. The rally was organised by its party to project him as the man behind the loan waiver package. Last week, Sonia addressed the 'Kisan Rally' in New Delhi, where she termed the UPA Government"s debt waiver package to the farmers as a historic step. She also highlighted the 60,000 crore-rupee loan waiver package to farmers and other benefits announced by the Central Government in its General Budget proposals for the coming fiscal. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had earlier announced a complete waiver of unpaid loans issued to farmers with holdings up to two hectares in his 2008-09 budget proposals in an effort to boost the agricultural sector.

ANI