Farmer who committed suicide at AAP rally had contested elections in 2003
New Delhi: A distressed farmer from Rajasthan committed suicide in full public view at the Aam Aadmi Party rally triggering a high-voltage political drama. “Gajendra’s death has saddened the nation. We are deeply shattered and disappointed. Condolences to his family,” Mr Modi tweeted. “At no point must a hardworking farmer think he is alone. We are all together in creating a better tomorrow for the farmers of India,” he added.
The farmer, identified as Gajendra Singh, climbed on top of a tree as top AAP leaders were present at Jantar Mantar, a stone’s throw from Parliament, and hanged himself with a gamcha (towel).
41-year-old Gajendra Singh had come from Dausa in Rajasthan, where he had once contested an election.
He had contested election as a Samajwadi Party candidate in the 2003 state polls, winning only 3,000 votes.
He was known to be politically active at protests and rallies.
In Rajasthan, hundreds of farmers have committed suicides due to unseasonal rain.
As policemen on duty for the rally looked on, some people climbed up the tree to save him, the branch gave away and he fell. He was rushed immediately to the nearby Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in a police jeep, where he was declared “brought dead”.
