The Hindu : National : Suicides by farmers: Maharashtra BJP's charge

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Friday, Dec 01, 2006
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Suicides by farmers: Maharashtra BJP's charge

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday alleged that the State Government was bringing down the number of suicides by farmers in the State and demanded an inquiry into the issue by a retired judge.

At a press conference here, Mr. Gadkari circulated a list of debt-ridden farmers who committed suicide and said he could prove that the Government recorded wrong `panchnamas' at least in 1000 cases. "If they are proved to be wrong in the inquiry, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh should resign and I am prepared to resign from the Legislative Council should they be proved correct." According to the list, 1,108 farmers took their own lives as on November 18, 2005.

He said the Chief Minister was belittling the tragedy, saying the farmers were committing suicide due to domestic reasons. Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil was attributing it to their mental imbalance and heavy drinking, while Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was misleading Parliament that the suicide rate was falling.

Mr. Gadkari called upon the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance to keep their poll promises and pay the farmers the price of Rs. 2,700 a quintal for cotton and Rs. 1,000 a quintal for paddy and provide free power.

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