Farmer commits suicide: Sarcastic Ashutosh says next time Kejriwal will climb up tree to save life

New Delhi, April 22: A farmer from Rajasthan on Wednesday committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in full public view in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at an Aam Aadmi Party rally even as appeals from those around to desist from taking the extreme step had fallen on deaf ears.

AAP leaders accused the police of being mute spectators and did nothing to save a precious life.

Gajendra Singh, a father of three from Dausa in Rajasthan, climbed a neem tree in Jantar Mantar, a stone's throw away from Parliament, the venue of anti-land bill rally, climbed a tree, put his 'gamcha' (towel) around his neck and also tied it to a branch.

In a bid to apparently draw attention to the plight of farmers who have suffered losses in the recent rains, he was seen raising slogans.

AAP volunteers shouted and appealed to him to come down. A couple of them even climbed the tree and tried to bring him down by undoing the knot.

But before they could access him, Singh tied himself to a branch and his body could be seen hanging still.

When the volunteers reached him and started untying the knot from the branch, it fell.

AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, who was addressing the rally had appealed him to come down and asked the police to rescue him. He was joined by another leader Sanjay Singh.

Meanwhile, speaking on the issue, AAP leader Ashutosh sarcastically said that if next time any such incident takes place, Delhi CM will himself climb trees to save the lives.

AAP plans massive stir against land bill

The AAP has organised a massive rally against the contentious land bill at Delhi' Jantar Mantar.

"Narendra Modi government has been pursuing anti-farmer and anti-poor policies because he has been obliged by the big industrialist, now it is time to pay them back," senior leader Ashutosh said during the rally.

The party will also stage a march towards Parliament though AAP chief is not likely to join it.

"We warn Modi and his government that AAP will not let that happen and today thousands of farmers are coming from all across the country to register their protest and to tell the government that if it doesn't stop the Bill from becoming law there would be an all India movement and they would teach the government a lesson," Ashutosh said.

Lashing out at the Centre, party leader Sanjay Singh said the party will fight against the "deadly Act" tooth and nail.

The party said farmers from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal belt of Uttar Pradesh are participating in the rally to protest against the Bill.

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)