Poverty, starvation not lead ryots to commit suicide
Bhopal, Mar 10 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Gopal Bhargava today told the state Assembly that the death of a farmer and his two daughters in Lanji assembly segment of Balaghat district was possibly caused by poisonous food.
Replying to an adjournment motion brought by Mr Kishor Samrite (SP), Mr Bhargava said Sogalpur village-resident Lalram (35) and his two daughters had died possibly after consuming poisonous food.
However, exact reason could be known after viscera test.
He said family members and villagers did not suspect suicide because the peasant family was financially stable. He claimed that no farmer in the state has committed suicide due to debt.
Mr Bhargava refused that Bhaiyalal Gond, who hailed from Amera village in the same area, died due to poverty as his family had sufficient foodgrain. The allegation that he committed suicide due to poverty and starvation did not hold water.
Responding to supplementary question by Mr Samirte regarding crops being destroyed by pests, Mr Bhargava admitted that 2-5 per cent crops had been affected due to pests.
Mr
Samrite
alleged
that
farmers
were
committing
suicide
due
to
forceful
collection
of
debts
by
money
lenders
and
banks.
The
government
had
failed
to
provide
relief
to
farmers
from
m