Davos 2013: Kamal Nath's poser to debt-laden countries

DAVOS: In the wake of various western nations finding themselves in deep debt amid a global crisis, Union Minister Kamal Nath today quipped he did not know who should commit suicide in countries who themselves are in debt, while remarks are made about farmers suicide in India.

He made the comments in a lighter vein at a breakfast session here on the sidelines of WEF annual meeting, when asked about farmer suicides in India due to loans of few thousands as against trillions of dollar debt in countries like US.

"Indian farmers do commit suicide when he can't pay a few thousands of debt, but I don't know who should commit suicide in countries that are themselves in serious debt," he said. The Urban Development Minister quickly added that it was for those countries to answer the question about their debt.

In reply to another question on the conditions of poor, Nath said he himself comes from an area and represents a constituency that has poorest of the poor people.

"The level of contentment between haves and have nots are very different today. One of the disturbing things that have come to fore is that the level of contentment among people is changing and a new aspirational society is emerging due to their access to technology, electronic media etc and that is creating some unrest."