The state Congress on Wednesday demanded resignation of Gujarat BJP president R C Faldu over his alleged remarks on reports of farmer suicide in the state due to crop failure.
Faldu had reportedly said that if a farmer had committed suicide it was his fate. He was reacting to queries on farmer suicide reports in local media claiming that as many as 10 farmers have committed suicide in Gujarat due to crop failure. "It is unfortunate that a farmer in Gujarat, who is considered better off that his counter parts in other states, has to commit suicide. As per reports 11 farmers have ended their lives in past one month," Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Arjun Modhvadia said.
He claimed that the deaths have resulted because the BJP government in the state have not been able to provide fodder and alternate employment to the farmers whose crop has failed due to deficient monsoon this year.
"What is more unfortunate is that when a farmers turns to the government for support in such tough times, all he gets is disappointment. This is because the entire government machinery was engaged in fulfilling the political and personal agenda of the Chief Minister," Modhvadia claimed.
"What Faldu has said is a cruel mockery of a farmers facing difficulties in wake of poor monsoon. BJP should immediately seek resignation from Faldu," the Congress leader demanded.
Reportedly, as many as eight farmers have committed suicide in Saurashtra region in the past one month due to crop failure following deficient rains. According to local police four farmers suicides have been reported from Amreli district while four others have been reported from Rajkot district. As per the weather department this year till date the Saurashtra region has received only 20 per cent of seasonal rainfall leading to a drought-like situation and resulting in crop failure. Also, the storage in 135 reservoirs in the region with capacity to store over 2,500 million cubic meter water, has come down to mere seven per cent.
Meanwhile, the BJP have dismissed reports that suicides by farmers was due to crop failure and lack of government support. They defended the state government saying that it had taken swift action to tackle the situation that has arisen due to deficient rains.
BJP President Faldu had also said that Chief Minister Narendra Modi had himself visited scarcity-hit district and taken stock of the situation with regard to fodder, drinking water and other utilities.
