Indian farmer commits suicide at protest in New Delhi
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NEW DELHI: A farmer hanged himself in front of hundreds of protesters gathered in the centre of the Indian capital New Delhi on Wednesday to rally against the government's contentious reform of land purchasing laws.
Television footage of the protest close to the nation's parliament showed the farmer sitting in the branches of a tree before taking a scarf and hanging himself, as protesters, police and media crews looked on.
The farmer, reportedly a father of three from the desert state of Rajasthan, was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival.
“We are carrying out an inquiry about the entire sequence of events leading to Gajendra Singh's death ... because when he climbed, several other people also climbed with him,” joint police commissioner for Delhi, Mukesh Meena, told reporters.
Anger was mounting over whether police and rally organisers did enough to save the man, as a political row erupted over who was to blame for the suicide.
The tree was several metres from the stage where Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and members of his party had staged the rally to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial land acquisition bill.
Know more: India’s powerful farming lobby turns on Modi
Local media said a suicide note had been recovered from the farmer's body, which said he had recently suffered crop losses because of unseasonal rains in Rajasthan.
Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party (AAP) quickly came under fire from political opponents for continuing the rally even after the farmer was taken down from the tree.
“We want to ask AAP why they didn't stop their speeches when they heard that the farmer had died,” Sambit Patra, spokesman for the Bharatiya Janata Party which rules at the national level, told reporters.
But Kejriwal put the blame on police, saying “he climbed the tree in front of our eyes." “I kept telling the police to save him but the police are not in our control,” Kejriwal said from the stage during the rally.
Scores of debt-laden farmers have suffered recent damage to their winter crops from unseasonal rains, with media reporting a string of suicides in recent weeks.
Protests have also been staged in the capital against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to overhaul the laws and make it easier to buy farmland for development projects.
The government argues the bill is needed to speed up economic growth, but political opponents say it favours big business at the expense of struggling farmers.
Modi responds
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took notice of the news offered his condolences to the farmer's family.
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He went on to say the government is working to create a better future for farmers in India.
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Read more: India needs a real opposition
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (53) Closed
Apr 22, 2015 06:27pm
What else can we expect from the world largest democracy.
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Apr 22, 2015 06:36pm
I think Modis India will follow US footsteps and rule for elite/corporations at the expense of the aam admii. India has progressed tremendously but why are there so many poor and illiterate.
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Apr 22, 2015 06:41pm
Sad day for India..
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Apr 22, 2015 06:56pm
204 farmers have committed suicide in BJP's 11 month rule, that too in Maharashtra, due to famine and, loans taken from the banks. Agriculture sector is being totally ignored, PM Narendra Modi, wants smart city, lending help for corporate companies for high tech and high rise buildings.
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Apr 22, 2015 06:57pm
very sad politician feel politics more important then the death of a farmer in state of UP cheque of Rs 75/- has been given to farmer as a compensation for damaged crops and where MP stay in five star hotel for accommodation costing about 3500 dollar per month for single MP this is really shame as where farmers are committed suicide because they cannot feed their family
and super rich and politician living five star luxury
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Apr 22, 2015 06:59pm
Cong and AAP are fooling people. I am son of a farmer and currently working in an IT company, my father would be happy to give his land if he is paid for his land and govt can offer job to a family member. Cong and AAP should understand that farmers who have very small land cannot make enough to feed their family members and they need job which Govt is providing if they acquire land.
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Apr 22, 2015 07:01pm
misguided people
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Apr 22, 2015 07:34pm
Its been 68 years since India's independence. Of these 68 years this Congress has run India's federal government for at least 60 years. If anyone is to be blamed for the misery of the farmers it is the Gandhi family.
This is a hard decision and India needs to shift from being an agrarian + service to a manufacturing + service economy.
I think it is a bold move and if Modi can push this bill through and then bring jobs to these same farmers it will help turn this whole thing around.
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Apr 22, 2015 07:49pm
Poor people are still committing suicides on daily basis in India and Indian government is boasting that they are growing at the rate of 7%
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Apr 22, 2015 07:53pm
@Canada - Thank God you are not in India.. I am a student of Macroeconomics.. India desperately the land bill, to move its overcrowded farm sector manpower (55% of Indian population) into manufacturing sector.. Thats the only way out, as these people are not educated enough to work in the services sector.. Socialist ideology has kept India down for 45 years. Finally capitalism in 1992, opened the gates for prosperity.. Funny thing is farmers had a miserable life throughout this socialist era of India (even from 1992 - till date, as noone had the guts to introduce land acquisition reforms)
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Apr 22, 2015 07:57pm
Kejriwal is responsible for this. He provoked the farmers through his speech and let's the poor man commits suicide to get media attention for his rally in front if his eyes. Well he is successful see even world media is covering it now. He and his party workers could have easily saved his life. Shame on him. He is giving rise to blood politics in India, which have already engulfed subcontinent. Now this blood politics is coming to India, this is scary. Case should be filed against him and proper investigation should be held. RIP gajendra (the poor farmer). Dear Pakistani friends things are not as seems, India gives maximum subsidy to it's farmers in world. Its the mis management of congress rule for decades and improper land laws , also uncertain mansoon patterns in last few years making the things worse for farmers.......
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Apr 22, 2015 07:59pm
As a result of Govt policies ...According to a report by Daily Mail, every 30 minutes an Indian farmer commits suicide as a result of Monsanto’s GMO crops. In the last decade, more than 250,000 Indian farmers have killed themselves because of Monsanto’s costly seeds and pesticides. Globalization and monopoly have forced farmers ... only today Modi responded ???
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Apr 22, 2015 08:02pm
@Kabeer Fortunately AND unfortunately both are true. And that is the tragedy of India.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:13pm
@harmony Do you really know what is democracy???...Visit India at least once ...u will know how much difficult to run country of 125 crore with Democracy
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Apr 22, 2015 08:21pm
Pakistanis appears much concern about India in nearly every second news...this is there real problem
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Apr 22, 2015 08:38pm
Most shamefull is partys are polticizing this tragic incident.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:48pm
The rich in India will grow richer, the corporations will soon rule it. That is the future under Modi.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:02pm
The land accusition bill is must it should be passed under any circumtances congress is misguiding people.All this happens because of khejriwal I know this man from the very first day a man with no vision.Only dharnas no karmas.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:09pm
@harmony there are thousand good things in India if only you have depth of heart and breadth of vision to receive those!
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Apr 22, 2015 09:39pm
So he did not find anything in world largest hypcrisy?
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Apr 22, 2015 09:45pm
See people problems in all countries, never heard of such a thing, at a rally and no one stops. Truely sad.
I feel for his family, may good bless his soul. Ameen.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:49pm
India should focus internally and forget about what Pakistan is doing. The media should stop crying over Pakistan, China corridor and maybe join in on the corridor if they like but please focus on the poor and let Pakistan do the same.
You spending 20 billion on war machine is uncalled for as Pakistan will not be defeated in conventional war any ways if they are then Nuke will be used so forget about all this and lets help the poor of both nations.
TAPI is also waiting for India approval.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:51pm
Why didn't the police or the crowd intervene? It's not like he had a gun or anything. It takes time to tie a noose to the tree and around yourself and then hang long enough to actually expire. He could have been stopped, unless he was encouraged to do it by the organizers of the protest who wanted headlines.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:57pm
ZAKAT system should be implemented by Muslim and non Muslim/secular countries alike. This is the only system through which poverty can be eradicated. Such sad incidents occur largely due to unequal distribution of wealth.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:00pm
I am out of words. Feeling embarrassed.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:03pm
@Up wala actually we don't toll Indian news websites to comment. Dawn is a Pakistan based newspaper. It is Indians who intrude into our territory. We couldn't care less about you. I think you guys need to stop this obsession with Pakistan.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:09pm
Modi's government does not need the farmers anymore as BJP government is trying to leap India from an agrarian state to industrialized one. The plan is very simple; snatch the farm land from the farmers and give to the financiers of the party in the last election. Since, those financiers are the leading industrialist it is a win-win situation for both the parties. Industrialists are starved for the land, and political party needs the donation.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:17pm
He is not the first one. Hundreds of Indian farmers have killed themselves in recent years because of debt, just not in public.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:17pm
Very sad to hear this,,,.... In my country split between rich and poor is increasing.
This is problem of having higher population, we need job for our young generation and for that we need land. Farmer might pay the price for short term.... As an responsible citizen of India, I will from this month onwards will donate 30,000 INR to PM fund....
For betterment of farmers.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:34pm
@Craig Ali
You need to understand the difference the wealthy in India and Trusts. Your point is invalid. Corporations in and of themselves are not greedy and pompous.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:35pm
I'm sure the poor farmers are reading your tweets Mr. Modi and finding it very reassuring.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:44pm
Why didnt anyone tried to stop him? Its just beyond my understanding, how can a crowd look at a person committing suicide?
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Apr 22, 2015 11:08pm
While the farmer's suicide is most unfortunate, people should understand that no development is possible without starting new projects & for that the government needs land. Now its not that the government is not going to give compensation to those who would give up their land. Infact, the compensations are pretty handsome. Next, if untimely rain destroys crops , how is that govt's fault? The govt has introduced techniques on how to hoard the crops in times like this. The farmers need to learn those techniques only. Everytime this "poor" card is played when the govt tries to do some good. Not this time. We need those projects, everyone would benefit from those, not only the rich investors. Its not America where everything is privatised, projects would be govt projects executed by private developers, thats all. Call it what you may but whenever BJP is in power , be it bajpayee or modi, they push for development whereas, the congress always plays to the gallaries & dont do actual work!
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Apr 22, 2015 11:21pm
As time goes by, the Indian Land Reforms continue to backfire at the expense of the small farmers. A farmer with small land holdings is not able to sustain himself with the one set of even 1 bad season. The Indian farmers have the highest rate of suicide in the world and are amongst the poorest of the farmers in the world despite huge subsidies.
Mr. Modi has realized the error. The model has even failed in China, where despite ample land, Chinese government is investing in huge farm lands overseas to address it's food security concerns.
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Apr 22, 2015 11:22pm
As for the kejriwal govt, let me tell you pakistanis something . I've seen you guys praising him, trust me when I say he is a big zero. He is himself delusional & tries to make others as well. The only reason AAP won because BJP choose Kiran Bedi as a CM candidate , which was a wrong move on BJP's part. No one likes her. If it had been Dr. Harshvardhan or Vijay Goel , BJP would have won. Plus, AAP mainly got the vote of gullable poor who fell for his unrealistic promises on water & electricity subsidy trick. He never said how he is going to do that. Delhi doesnt have full statehood, so taxation is low, if he is to provide free water & subsidised electricity, where do you think he would get the money to make up for subsidies? He has to tax the Delhites heavily. Now if Delhi becomes a full state , the people would be taxed at 90%. Kejriwal is pushing for full state hood for Delhi. Kejriwal doesnt have a goal, he only talks of idealistic scenarios which has no feasability in practicality.
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Apr 23, 2015 12:28am
@harmony - "What else can we expect from the world largest democracy". Don't be a copycat cheat to use someone else's name. Be yourself!
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Apr 23, 2015 12:45am
@prathit Ive seen documentaries where companies like Monsato and DuPont bribe officials in India, or try to coerce farmers into selling land or buying their seeds and even worse sometimes they frame farmers by planting their seeds and then suing the farmers in court for copyright, of course many farmers around the world can't afford the court fees and hence sell to the companies or agree to use their genetically modified seeds. Corporations are real evil and greedy and get away with anything all they need to do is pay a few $ to politicians and officials and we all know how politicians love money both in PK and India.
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Apr 23, 2015 01:00am
Matter of concern for india...present govt shd take care of both INDIA &BHARAT...some hard decisions obviously hv 2 b taken 4 a better future...but nw th issue wl b politicised unncsarly instd of fndng a solution....many a political football in india...RIP
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Apr 23, 2015 01:02am
Its simply hilarious to see Pakistanis commenting on democracy, human rights and even on secularism. Too much.
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Apr 23, 2015 01:48am
@khan I have right to comment on any news about my country in any world newspaper..I don't comment on Non Indian news in this website
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Apr 23, 2015 04:11am
Pakistani media is making a small incident an international news. Nothing new... India will continue forward regardless this sort of little issues.
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Apr 23, 2015 05:57am
"Grapes of Wrath" is a novel by a very famous American writer by the name of John Steinbeck.
It deals with the 'growing pangs" of the early 20th century America...how people are uprooted and fooled into near slave labor on large plantations in America.The novel was later made into a movie that can very heart wrenching to watch.It is basically a novel about the uprooting and displacement of people something that the Land Bill in India precisely trying to address?:):)
After Independence India took up large scale reforms and broke up the large land holdings of zamindars and handed the land to the tiller..the land got fragmented and today many a descendant of that early beneficiary of land reforms is left to struggle with tiny patches of land parceled between the descendants ..totally inadequate to draw a living from..the situation is akin to the movie I talked about?:)
Power plants,giant steel mills,mining require thousands and thousands of acres..land to fuel industrial growth ?:)
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Apr 23, 2015 08:33am
Most number of farmers committed sucide In congress rule last 50 years. Now they are playing politics over farmers sucide. Land aquisition bill was proposed by congress only.
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Apr 23, 2015 10:32am
@Sunil Your figures are wrong. Only three farmers in Maharashtra have committed suicide in the last nine months.
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Apr 23, 2015 10:58am
@harmony You are champion of peace.
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Apr 23, 2015 01:13pm
Give relief to your the citizens of your poor country instead of spending brainlessly on weapons and military which will all be phased out without use.
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Apr 23, 2015 01:40pm
@harmony very correct. A bad side to democracy indeed. Govt is not doing enough to protect the farmer. Unseasonal or low rain fall, debt, familial burdens, higher cost of GMO seeds etc are some of tge drivers. A cotton farmer from Maharashtra cannot compete with a US farmer because of the enormous subsidies the latter receives. But they are effectively selling in the same market. Some Indian states have stronger political lobby for farmers. Haryana has very small number of farmer suicides compared to, say Maharashtra. The right wing parties should spent more time on social causes and activism than spewing hatred.
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Apr 23, 2015 07:36pm
@Shopaholic The farmer had climbed high up in a tree.The busy people below could not probably fathom his intentions. However the subsequent comment by AAP politicians displays the callousness of the politicians. The reason why farmers commit suicide so regularly and a permanent solution should be found.
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Apr 23, 2015 08:28pm
@Sanjay Guha TOI of 19th April says that there have been 601 repeat 601 farmer suicides in Maharashtra ALONE in the months from Jan to March this year, averaging 7 a day.
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Apr 23, 2015 10:24pm
@Sanjoy Sankar Guha - You have good grasp of issues!
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Apr 24, 2015 02:10pm
@Canada Modi's India is working hard to bring something on the table for farmers. First time in the history of India a political party taking practical steps to change the life of Indian farmers for good. The ordinance is based on many farmers input. There are multiple problems of farmer. There is no alternate revenue, job or electricity/water in villages. They have to go long places to sell their produce. If demand is generated they get better revenue. 20 % developed will be a good asset. Modi Govt. wants to create schools, hospitals and roads in there land while compensate them for the same by money and govt. job. What else the Govt. of a developing nation can offer.
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Apr 25, 2015 08:46pm
@Sunil - Well, those farmers from arid Vidarbh region of Maharashtra have been committing suicide for decades. What does it has to do with Modi's govt? Modi is not a magician that he can solve all problems of 1.4 billion people in a few months time.
Agriculture sector in India, must be developed, NOT protected. Agriculture can be both a high-tech, as well as high-profit "industry" with significant contribution to the GDP. But for that we need investments, technology, research...and more than that we need to put a lot of importance and value to agriculture. We need to bring in competitiveness ..and not subsidy.
We can learn a lot from Israel in that aspect. They are miles ahead of rest of the world, in agriculture technologies.
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Apr 25, 2015 08:51pm
@kettle - Focus on whats left to be done, Instead of whats already been done. - Buddha
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