Mumbai: After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul Gandhi are on a visit to Maharashtra where they are expected to address a farmers' rally in Latur.
Over three lakh party workers and farmers are expected to attend the rally in the state, which has witnessed more than a thousand farmer suicides this year.
But many wonder if these visits will be of any use at all. Last time the Prime Minister came, he offered all help to the troubled farmers.
"We will discuss with Sharad Pawar and Vilasrao Deshmukh and the Central Government along with the state will try to get things into shape no matter what it costs," Manmohan Singh had said.
In all, more than a thousand farmers have killed themselves this year. Farmers in the region claim the Government's assistance is too little and too late.
"There is no major assistance for the farmers from this package. Be it financially or for their fields. Hence, even after the PM's visit the suicides continue," a farmer from Amravati, Makarand Kanse said.
Now, these suicides have become a political weapon too. The Opposition is all but ready to push the Government on the back foot once again.
"The suicidal cases have increased in Maharashtra. More than 1,250 cases are there. Already Tata Institute of Social Sciences have submitted their report to the Mumbai High Court, in which they say because of the higher interest costs, farmer suicides are increasing," BJP leader, Nitin Gadkari said.
As VIPs come and go and politicians trade charges and make tall promises, the poor farmers of the state continue to languish. But will their prayer for help get an answer ?
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