New Delhi: A farmer hanged himself from a tree today at Aam Aadmi Party’s rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi today ahead of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s address on the controversial land bill.
He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia confirmed the farmer was from Dausa, Rajsthan. It is understood he has three small children.
“Suicide note states that he was from Rajasthan, has 3 children and was disowned by father due to crop damage,” Congress leader Sachin Pilot told ANI.
Kejriwal slammed the police for not being able to stop the farmer who attempted suicide before his speech. The AAP chief began his speech after the farmer was taken to the hospital, when it was still not clear whether he had died.
“He climbed the tree in front of our eyes. We kept alerting the police about it. They should have had the humanity to save the farmer,” Kejriwal said at the beginning of his speech, adding, “This farmer has got the entire nation’s attention. We are here for him.”
In his speech, Kejriwal criticised the Modi government over the controversial land acquisition bill. “Farmers and the poor had put their faith in Modi sarkar and voted for them. But now they feel this is a government for the super-ameer.”
“All farmers are against this land bill. So are many political parties. What was the emergency to bring about this bill, if not to help the super-rich?” Kejrwial told those gathered at Jantar Mantar.
Kejriwal reportedly visited the hospital after his speech. “I am sad that he climbed the tree in front of us but nobody tried to stop him,” Kejriwal was quoted saying.
Meanwhile, there was a protest launched outside the hospital.
Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said, “We are taking details of this matter and will comment on it when I get all information.”
The AAP today held a farmers rally to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government’s land bill, after calling off the proposed march to Parliament.
The rally was addressed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders.
Farmers from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha and the Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal belt of Uttar Pradesh will also participate in the rally.
His suicide note ended with “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Rajasthan”.
