Farmer's suicide: Political parties question lack of sensitivity

New Delhi, April 23: The suicide of a farmer at an AAP rally reverberated in the Lok Sabha on Thursday with parties lamenting the lack of sensitivity and questioning why the incident which took place in full public view could not be stopped.

Opposition parties, led by the Congress, also demanded loan waiver and immediate compensation for farmers affected by the recent inclement weather.

Farmer Gajendra Singh, who hailed from Rajasthan, hanged himself from a tree in Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. He was taken to hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

"When the incident was taking place, why didn't anybody stop him. Why didn't the police personnel do anything. Why did the leaders present there continue with their speeches. Also some insensitive comments need to be introspected," Congress leader Deepinder Hooda said.

"We are all human beings first. We all need to introspect. When he was trying to hang himself, some people were clapping," he added. [Farmer suicide: Who is to blame for Gajendra Singh's death?]

Hooda said that the other point is of farmers' plight. The government should immediately announce compensation and bonus for farmers. It should also look at a loan waiver scheme.

He also asked the prime minister to make a statement on the issue.

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said: "I express deep anguish and sorrow at the suicide of the farmer. Two points emerge from this...One is how insensitive our society has become and the other is how our farmers are suffering."

"The home minister should order a judicial inquiry as to why nobody reacted and the drama was played out in full view," he said.

It is unfortunate that at the AAP rally speeches went on as the man was committing suicide. It was an "utterly callous" attitude, he said.

"It hides a deep malaise in our system that when calamity strikes, our government sends a team and they file a report. Many farmers are complaining that they have not received any compensation. I would like a categorical statement as to when they would give full compensation to these farmers.

"The prime minister instead of taking to Twitter should come to the house and make a statement on the situation in the country," the TMC leader said.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said: "This is not a question of just the government but all of us. We have given loan waiver and irrigation has been made free. We should do something together so that farmers don't commit suicide."

Aam Aadmi Party Leader Bhagwant Mann, whose party has been criticised for not stopping the rally despite the incident, said: "Gajendra was unhappy with the system. This issue should not be politicised. Many state governments hide the true figures of farmers suicides. All governments should get together and do something for the farmers."

Earlier, the house had to be adjourned for nearly 40 minutes after the opposition created a ruckus demanding an immediate discussion on the issue.

IANS