Farmer’s suicide: Centre, Oppn slug it out in House

Both the Houses of Parliament were echoed by the issue of suicide by a farmer at an AAP rally yesterday. It later switched into a debate on the larger issue of agricultural crisis fuelled by the recent unseasonal rains, resulting in decreasing grain productivity.

The Opposition and MPs from the ruling party asked for a farm-loan waiver and a bonus on the wheat crop.  PM Modi called farmers’ problems as ‘long standing and widespread’ and assured all help to them. Modi said in Lok Sabha: “The farmers cannot be neglected. The government was ready to accept all good suggestions. The controversy of farmers committing suicide is a major concern.”

Modi said, “We should all swear to work together and find a solution to this era-old problem. The matter has been there for long.”

The Houses witnessed sudden exchanges between the ruling BJP-led NDA government and the combined opposition – the Congress, the Left, AAP and the TMC.

A peasant from village Dausa, Rajasthan, named Gajendra Singh, had committed suicide at an AAP rally yesterday.

“The government is standing strongly with farmers and will provide them all help,” said Rajnath Singh.

Beginning the discussion, Deepender Hooda, a Congress MP from Rohtak, claimed a farm-loan remission, a stipend of Rs 25,000 per acre and a bonus of Rs 300 per quintal for the wheat acquired by the Central agencies.

“The damage and loss due to rain is the largest in 100 years”, Hooda said.

In the Rajya Sabha, BSP chief Mayawati appealed a CBI investigation.