Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday paid a visit to Annedoddi, about 50km from Bangalore, to meet the families of farmers who committed suicide in four villages in Bangalore Rural district after being unable to repay their debts. Crops have failed in some districts in Karnataka owing to drought. Gandhi said she was deeply disturbed by the plight of farmers.

Speaking to reporters, she faulted the Centre for not responding to repeated pleas by the Congress to rescue farmers by rendering assistance to drought-hit states. She hailed the Rs 880 crore relief package for farmers announced by the Karnataka government.