Farmer Sucide: We can’t let farmers die, says PM Narendra Modi
Congress LS leader Mallikarjun Kharge sought a judicial probe to fix accountability
New Delhi: “The problem (afflicting farmers) is old, deep-rooted and widespread, and we have to seek solutions. There should be a collective resolve. We have an open mind to consider any suggestion that is made... We cannot let the farmers die,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
Mr Rajnath Singh, whose statement preceded that by Mr Modi, accused AAP supporters of “clapping and raising slogans” as the man inched closer to death. “The crowd was clapping. The police requested them to stop raising slogans. Generally, such people (who try to end their lives) are engaged in talking to turn their mind, but here the crowd kept clapping and raising slogans,” Mr Singh during an impromptu debate in the Lok Sabha.
Defending the Delhi police, whose chief directly reports to the home ministry, Mr Singh said the force had taken prompt steps to tackle the situation by calling the police control room and seeking help from the fire brigade. The AAP, however, said the home minister was “lying” and giving misleading statements.
Congress Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge sought a judicial probe to fix accountability, saying the police, which was in the dock, cannot probe itself. Terming the farmer’s suicide a “great tragedy”, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it was not a single party’s issue, and urged all parties in Parliament and outside to pool in their wisdom to find a credible solution.
Under attack from the AAP that the police did nothing to rescue the 41-year-old farmer during its rally at Jantar Mantar, the police said in its FIR neither AAP leaders nor workers had cooperated with it. “This is totally an incident where AAP workers and leaders instigated the man to commit suicide, and they also did not pay heed to requests made by the police,” the FIR stated.
The FIR was registered under Section 306 (abetment of suicide), 186 (obstructing public servant in the discharge of public functions) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC at the Parliament Street police station.