Opposition blames govt for farmer's suicide opposite Mantralaya

The ruling and opposition parties today had a heated discussion in Maharashtra Legislative Council over suicide by a farmer opposite the Mantralaya (state secretariat) here last week.

The Opposition demanded that a murder case be registered against "errant officials".

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However, state Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse said the state government had done all it could, and that the farmer had received drought aid over a month back.

Madhav Kadam, a farmer from Nanded district, had attempted suicide by consuming an insecticide opposite the state secretariat here on March 23, allegedly because of not receiving drought compensation despite his crop failure. He later died in an hospital on March 26.

As the House assembled for the day, Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde, via an adjournment motion, said a government which believes in communicating through social media cannot respond to the cries of farmers.

"This suicide incident has happened because the government excluded farmers sowing cotton from getting compensation for crop failure. This is a government that believes in communicating through social media. But, why does it not hear the cries of farmers?" he asked.

He said the farmer had met a few ministers, tehsildar and Collector asking for help, but did not receive any.

Jayant Patil (of PWP) said it is the first time in the history of the state that a farmer has committed suicide in front of Mantralaya.

"(Eknath) Khadse, while he was in the Opposition, had many a times demanded that a murder case be lodged against officials when a farmer committed suicide. Now, the district collector should be charged under IPC section 302," he said.