Farmer Gajendra Singh's family rejects Arvind Kejriwal’s apology, demands CBI probe

Dausa (Rajasthan): Following the public suicide of farmer Gajendra Singh in New Delhi, his father on Friday refused to accept Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's apology for continuing with his speech after the incident and demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

"If something happens to his son, I will also go and apologise. Will apology bring back my son? All this is a sham. Such a big incident took place and he is apologising. How is he going to run the government? Gajendra left behind three small kids. Who will take care of them?" Gajendra's father Banne Singh said.

Read: Farmer Gajendra Singh cremated, politics on

"What will happen now after this apology? My brother has died. Kejriwal did not stop the rally for even two minutes after the incident," the farmer's sister Rekha told reporters in Nangal Jhamarwada village in Dausa.

Rekha reiterated the family's claims that the farmer was provoked to take the extreme step. "He might have been provoked... some conspiracy may be behind this," she said.

The aggrieved family also demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

Read: Farmer’s suicide: Ashutosh sobs on air, requests other parties to stop politicising issue

"We doubt this incident and demand a CBI inquiry in the case and asked minister Rajendra Rathore to take up this with the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh," the farmer's uncle Gopal Singh, a local Sarpanch said.

Gopal Singh simply said that his family cannot take action against those in power.

"If Kejriwal has apologised, then it means that something wrong has been done. We do not have any power to take action against those responsible. He said that he could not see Gajendra because of the banners, but then there must have been others of his party and from the administration who would have seen him climbing the tree. Why did not they stop him?" Gajendra's uncle said.

Read: Farmer suicide case: Gajendra Singh was not distressed, claims family

Rajasthan health minister Rajendra Rathore who reached the native village of the deceased farmer, handed over a cheque of Rs 4 lakh to the family on the behalf of BJP.

The farmer's uncle told media that the family has also asked for the status of ‘Shaheed’ (martyr) for Gajendra and naming the relief package for farmers after his name.

"Arrangement for good education for his children and a government job to his kin were among other demands raised before the minister who in return assured us that our grievances will be discussed with the Chief Minister," he said.

Read: Gajendra Singh suicide: Delhi Police refuses to share details with District Magistrate

Gajendra's brother Vijendra and daughter Megha had said yesterday that Singh was not the one who would commit suicide and the handwriting in the purported suicide note was not his and demanded a probe into it.

Meanwhile, BJP labelled Kejriwal as a 'king of blame-games' and said that AAP chief's politics has been focused only on allegations and acquisitions.

"What a bundle of contradictions, this entire situation is. When it comes to Kejriwal, his entire politics has been focused only on allegations, acquisitions and somehow finding excuses for the lack of work they do. He is almost the king of blame games because that is what he has done consistently," BJP leader Nalin Kohli said.

Read: Farmer who committed suicide at AAP rally had contested elections in 2003

"If it is only TV TRPs, then Kejriwal needs to introspect why he preferred to be on TV platforms regularly before he became a Chief Minister? His entire politics has been based on assaults through the media," he added.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP unit chief Satish Upadhyay alleged that the incident concerning farmer Gajendra Singh's death was created by Kejriwal, adding that the AAP chief's only concern for TRPs.

Read: Farmer suicide at rally: When an Aam Aadmi ends life

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had apologised over continuing with his speech after Gajendra Singh hanged himself from a tree during at AAP’s anti-Land Billd rally in New Delhi.

As per reports, a suicide note was found that revealed the farmer was banished from his house after his crop was damaged. He took the extreme step because he had no means of support his family. 

Read: Dead farmer's family aghast Kejriwal continued rally while their son hanged himself