After his remarks on farmers’ suicide caused uproar across the nation, Haryana Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar on Thursday remains unapologetic and also denied making such remarks. “I had only condemned the act of suicide not the farmers who committed suicide,” said Dhankar while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.
After calling the farmers who committed suicide as cowards and criminals on Tuesday, Dhankar remained defiant over this controversial comments saying that the issue was politicised and also, it was highlighted incorrectly by the media.
Under fire for making such insensitive comments, Dhankar, who also remained BJP Kisan Morcha president said, “I welcome the criticism but my statement was interpreted in a wrong way. People did not see my emotions when I gave statement on this issue,” said the Minister while clarifying.
After saying that BJP-led Haryana Government will not help families of those farmers who had committed suicide because the administration is not for cowards, Dhankar on Thursday took a u-turn and said “my sympathies are with the affected families of the farmers”.
Hitting back at the Opposition over the issue, Dhankar said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi should not take about farmers’ suicide in Parliament as Amethi has witnessed many such cases.
Also, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav should first look into farmers’ suicide cases in Bundelkhand, said the Minister while reacting on the statements made by the leaders on the farmers’ issue.
Dhankar said that as per the reports of Government, seven farmers have committed suicide in the State. “I have discussed the issue with the Chief Minister so that a data could be prepared in this regard and we can keep a check on the reasons behind the farmers’ suicide. We will bring in a policy for the welfare of farmers so that suicide cases could be stopped,” he added.
Notably, the unseasonal rains and hailstorms in Haryana in the past couple of months had ruined crops standing on several thousand acres of land leading to great distress and financial trouble for farmers.
Many farmers and agricultural labourers had committed suicide or had died due to heart attack in the State in the past one month. On the issue, Dhankar had on Tuesday said that suicide is an unlawful act according to Indian law. Those farmers who commit suicide are cowards and criminals.
Dhankar went on to say that the Haryana Government will not support such cowardly farmers who commit suicide and leave behind their family to suffer. The insensitive comments made by Dhankar on the issue of farmers’ suicide were condemned by political parties and famers’ organisations.
Condemning his statement, the state Congress has demanded his resignation. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi party protested against Dhankar in Chandigarh demanding an apology and resignation. Also, the Bharatiya Kisan Union held protest against Dhankar in various parts of the State and burnt his effigy.