Farmer hangs himself from tree at AAP rally; BJP calls it conspiracy by Kejriwal

New Delhi, April 22: Hitting out at Arvind Kejriwal over the death of a farmer during his party's rally at Jantar Mantar, the BJP on Wednesday alleged that the whole episode was a conspiracy by AAP chief.

Addressing a press conference, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said that Kejriwal did not stop his speech even after knowing that the farmer has died.

"Why didn't the AAP leaders stop the farmer from committing suicide?"he asked.

Earlier in the day, a farmer from Rajasthan, whose crops ruined by rains, hanged himself from a tree at an AAP rally just before Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressed thousands against the controversial land ordinance.

The dramatic death of Gajendra Singh, a father of three, immediately turned into a political drama, with the Aam Aadmi Party blaming Delhi Police.

Shortly after doctors at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital declared the man dead, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Delhi Police, which reports to him, to hold an inquiry into the death.

The sensational incident took place at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the city where thousands from Delhi and other states had turned up to denounce the land bill at a mass meeting called by the AAP.

Three AAP activists who saw the man hanging climbed the tree and tried to bring him down. But as they untied the scarf the farmer had tied to a tree branch to hang himself, his body fell with a loud thud.

One of the AAP activists who had climbed the tree fainted on the branch. Others then clambered up and brought him down after sprinkling water on his face.

A suicide note in Hindi found at the spot said the man was taking his life because untimely rains had destroyed his crops and ruined him. He ended the note with "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Rajasthan".

As emotionally charged AAP activists raised anti-police slogans, the man was rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he was declared dead.

After a hard-hitting speech in which he accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to snatch farmers' land to give it to the "super rich", Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia drove to the hospital.

By then, Delhi Congress leader Ajay Maken had visited the hospital and remarked that both the AAP and police should have taken steps to avoid the suicide.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi also visited the hospital. He later told the media: "We are with the farmer's family. We will help them."

Earlier, Kejriwal vowed to organise farmers all over the country on the issue.

Modi had betrayed the trust of the farmers after taking their vote and forming a government, Kejriwal told the protesters.

OneIndia News
(With agency inputs)