Hubballi: Thousands of farmers and Congress party workers joined AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi in a 7-km padayatra here on Saturday.
Mr Gandhi visited the family of deceased farmer Ashok Madiwalar in Maidur village and handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh as compensation.
However, several villagers were angry that they could not express their grievances as the Congress leader was surrounded by NSUI workers.
Mr Gandhi walked in sweltering heat, as placards and Congress flags greeted him throughout his padayatra. He also could witness tens of acres of dried up maize, cotton and jowar crops along the roadside during the padayathra from Maidur to Gudadur village.
The police had a tough time controlling the crowd as thousands of people walked with Mr Gandhi on the narrow lane. The entire stretch was stinking of human feces as villagers had gone for open defecation despite a direction from the district administration.
He addressed a mammoth public rally at Gudadur after the padayatra.
He was treated to North Karnataka dishes, including jowar roti, at the residence of former minister and local legislator K.B. Koliwad after the rally. Later, he continued the padayatra for another 2 km up to Gudadur Thanda where he met people of the traditional Lambani community.
