Why not separate budget for Agriculture, students ask Rahul

The Congress general secretary was on a day's visit to Maharashtra, as part of his countrywide tour for connecting with students and youth. Interacting with around 400 students of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Gandhi justified a separate budget for Railways, saying Railways have a large infrastructure. "The Government is providing more funds for Agriculture sector growth," he said.

Students from Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) final and PG students and those pursuing doctorate, asked him about the lack of amenities for urban population. Gandhi said migration is not the solution.

"We cannot change or transform the village into city but surely can provide all necessary facilities to villages without changing their identity to curb migration," he said. Recalling his visit to a village, Gandhi said he found a couple living in sordid conditions with no clothes for their children. He said he was touched by their plight and decided to visit more villages to have a feel of village life.

On the farmers suicides, Gandhi whose meeting with one such farmer's widow Kalawati Bandurkar in Yavatmal district two years ago hogged national limelight, said the number of suicides has declined. "It is a sad thing that farmers had to commit suicide," he said.

Gandhi invited students to join Youth Congress and National Students Union of India (NSUI). "If you are interested in politics you can join. We need younger generation to lead people," he said.

He said the Central and state governments were spending a lot on welfare schemes but benefits were not reaching the last person. "There is a fault in the system and you (students) will have to rectify it," he added.

Gandhi said the money should be spent on infrastructure and irrigation instead of distributing among individuals.