AAP, BJP trade charges after farmer’s suicide

Gajendra Singh, a farmer from Rajasthan’s Dausa district, hanged himself from a tree at the heart of the Capital on Wednesday. The incident occurred in the presence of the police, media and a huge crowd, during Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s rally against the land acquisition ordinance.

According to eye-witnesses, some people tried to save the farmer, but he fell down and was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where he was declared “brought dead”.

The incident, seen as a wake-up call to the Narendra Modi government on the agrarian crisis, gave more ammunition to opposition parties, which are up in arms against the amendments to the Land Bill, saying the proposed legislation only “adds to the miseries of farmers”.

Condoling the death, Modi said: “Gajendra’s death has saddened the nation. We are all deeply shattered and disappointed. Condolences to his family. At no point must the hardworking farmer think he is alone. We are all together in creating a better tomorrow for the farmers of India.”

Home Minister Rajnath Singh took a briefing from the Delhi Police Commissioner on the sequence of events and ordered a probe.

Chaos broke out as soon as the news of the farmer’s death spread, as leaders across the political spectrum made a beeline to the hospital and a blame-game started.

The Congress demanded that an FIR be registered against Modi and Kejriwal.

Kejriwal and his Deputy Manish Sisodia cut short their speeches and rushed to the hospital, even as some AAP leaders alleged “sabotage” and blamed Delhi police for being “mute spectators”.

Delhi police falls under Central jurisdiction and reports to the Union Home Ministry.

“We kept asking the police to bring him down. Police may not be in our control but at least there should be a semblance of humanity among them,” said Kejriwal.

The BJP hit back, accusing AAP leaders of insensitivity. “The whole thing was recorded by the media, but no leader from AAP got down from the stage,” party spokesperson Sambit Patra told a news channel, alleging that the “speeches continued”.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who also visited the hospital, said: “It is a very sad time. We want to tell the farmers and labourers not to worry. We will do whatever we can to help them and will fight the land ordinance.”

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury pointed out that the issue of farmer suicides has been raised in Parliament for a year now, adding that the “land ordinance will add to the misery of farmers.”

Meanwhile, a purported suicide note by the deceased farmer blamed the situation of helplessness following crop loss for the extreme step. “I am a farmer’s son. My father has disowned me after my crop suffered damage. have three children. Somebody please tell me the way out,” said the hand-written note, ending with “ Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan ”.

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