Vasundhara Raje visits rain-hit farmers before Sonia’s proposed tour

“We are seriously considering the changes suggested by the state government in the State Disaster Response Fund norms,” Rajnath Singh said. (Source: PTI)

Even as the state government grappled with huge losses incurred to farmers following days of unseasonal rain and hailstorm, Hadoti region comprising Kota, Jhalawar, Bundi districts drew much attention of the Vasundhara Raje government after Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced her visit to Kota on Friday.

Raje toured the region extensively on Thursday visiting several villages in Bundi and Jhalawar district, where she visited farms as well as houses of affected farmers. She said that a team from the Center will shortly arrive in the state to conduct a survey of the losses incurred to crops.

Raje also approached Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was on a visit to the state capital for a conference, and sought assistance to meet the crisis. “We are seriously considering the changes suggested by the state government in the State Disaster Response Fund norms. We will provide maximum relief and have informed the state government to submit the final report on the total losses so that we can initiate the next step,” Singh told reporters on Thursday.

Meanwhile the Congress has stepped up preparations in Kota district to receive Sonia. Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot toured villages in the district and identified exact locations and houses for Sonia to visit. The Congress chief is expected to arrive by noon at Jhalawar by a chartered plane and take a chopper to Kota from where she will be driven to Darbiji and Morpa villages. “This is the worst-hit areas and villagers are still awaiting compensation. We will continue to push the government for speedy relief,” Pilot told The Indian Express.

Source:: Indian Express