The AAP government today defended its decision in the Delhi High Court to accord "martyr" status to a Rajasthan farmer who died due to hanging from a tree during the party rally here in April, saying this was done to pay tribute to the struggling peasantry.
The submission was made before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath, which sought Delhi government's reply on a plea challenging their cabinet's decision to accord "martyr" status to the farmer saying suicide was a crime and it cannot be glorified.
"Decision are executive to bring into light the poor and highly disadvantageous plight of the farmers in our country and to pay tribute to the struggling agrarian cultivator and therefore there is no reason that this court should entertain such a frivolous petition which should be dismissed with exemplary costs," the affidavit filed by Delhi government stated.
Delhi government's Additional Standing Counsel Sanjay Ghose in ther affidavit further stated that in today's life there are around 70 per cent people linked with agriculture.
"Various state governments as well as the union government are trying to provide relief and rehabilitation to distressed farmers at large and Delhi cabinet decision as taken by vide the council of ministers are some of the steps taken to provide immediate relief and assistance to distressed farmers," the affidavit stated.
The incident had occurred during an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rally against the Land Acquisition Bill on April 28 when the Rajasthan farmer, Gajendra Singh Kalyanwat, hanged himself from a tree at the Jantar Mantar venue here.
