Govt must immediately provide relief to farmers hit by rains: Rahul

New Delhi, March 14: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday, March 14 urged the government in Lok Sabha to respond quickly to the plight of farmers in north India hit by heavy rains and hailstorm, saying like last time the help should not reach late.

As soon as the House met for the day, Gandhi raised the issue of heavy rains and hailstorm which have lashed north Indian states in the past two days. "Crops have been damaged...the government should take immediate action," he said in the lower house.

He urged the Centre to send a team to assess the damage and demanded a statement by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in the House.

The Congress Vice President said the Centre should hasten the provision of relief to the affected farmers and like last time, this assistance should not reach late. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said he has spoken with the Agriculture Minister on the "serious" issue, who is in touch with state governments.

He said the minister could make a statement either today or tomorrow. Rain and hailstorms lashed several parts of North India including Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana over the weekend and early this morning.

According to reports, rains have flattened wheat, mustard and coriander crops in the states. Later when the Lok Sabha took up Zero Hour, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected notices of adjournment given by Rahul and some other members on the issue.

PTI