Cutting across the political divide, political leaders and parties on Thursday paid homage to Sikh preacher Sant Ram Singh, who apparently committed suicide because he was unable to bear the "pain of farmers".
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar termed the 65-year-old preacher's death "an irreparable loss" while Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh also expressed grief over the death.
Sant Ram Singh's body was on Wednesday night taken to the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Karnal's Singhra village. The cremation will take place on Friday.
A number of political leaders including SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief and SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja also visited the gurdwara to pay their last respects.
Sant Ram Singh died near Delhi's Singhu border on Wednesday. A handwritten note in Punjabi, purportedly left behind by the deceased, said he was unable to bear the "pain of farmers" who have been protesting against the Centre''s agriculture reform laws.
Opposition leaders alleged the Centre was being "cruel" and "insensitive" to its people and demanded that the farmers' demands be immediately accepted. "Paid tributes and had ''antim darshan'' of Sant Baba Ram Singh Ji Nananksar Singhra Karnal Wale. Sant ji sacrificed his life in support of the agitating farmers who are suffering on roads to get their rights," Sukhbir Badal tweeted. Interacting with reporters in Karnal, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately accept farmers'' demand for the repeal of the farm laws.
"Farmers have a small demand, but the country's PM is not ready to accept it. The PM should immediately accept their demands. He should at least understand the sentiments when saintly people like Sant ji are giving up their lives. I am surprised and saddened that the government is still not moved. Within three weeks nearly 30 farmers have died but the Centre is not concerned," he added.
SAD MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal asked how a government can be so cruel towards its own people? "Farmers are only asking for their rights," she said.
Congress leader Selja alleged the Centre is "insensitive" towards the plight of farmers. "The Government should accept demands of farmers," she said.
Taking to Twitter, Khattar said Sant Ram Singh's death is "a moment of great sorrow". He said the real tribute to Singh would be to walk the path of human welfare shown by him.
Capt tweeted, "Extremely shocked and saddened on learning the tragic news of Sant Ram Singh ji of Nanaksar Singhra wale from Karnal ending his life at Singhu Border in protest against the Centre''s Farm Laws."