Centre, Rajasthan government insensitive towards farmers: Ashok Gehlot

JAIPUR: Accusing the BJP-led government at the Centre and in Rajasthan of being insensitive towards the plight of farmers, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said it was for the first time that distressed farmers were ending their lives in the state.

In last two days, three farmers from Rajasthan have allegedly ended their lives, Gehlot said at a press conference after returning from cremation of Gajendra Singh's body at Nangal-Jhamarvar in Dausa district.

Poor farmer Gajendra committed suicide in Delhi yesterday, second man jumped before a train in Alwar and third person committed suicide in Bharatpur today, Gehlot said.

Gajendra's suicide has shaken people and farmers are upset in the country, he added.

Taking a jibe at Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Gehlot said CM was not holding any public meeting to know the grievances of public and farmers which should be a routine matter of any government.

"Neither the state nor the BJP government at Centre are serious about farmers problem of crop failure and damage", he alleged, adding, "both the governments are insensitive towards farmers who are not able to stand up on their own after heavy crop losses".

Farmers' were standing in queues with their produce, and there were no buyers, he remarked, adding the state government had raised prices of petrol and diesel and urea was not available at the time of rabi crop sowing.

Farmers in Rajasthan were living under heavy debt burden due to untimely inclement weather and loans and the state government's compensation was like a drop in the ocean, he said.

The state BJP government should announce its own relief and compensation package for farmers, added Gehlot.