H D Deve Gowda to sit on hunger strike from Monday over farmers' crisis

NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda will launch a hunger strike here from Monday to highlight the problems being faced by farmers, amid rising numbers of suicides by them, including in his home state Karnataka.

The JD(S) leader will seek a special package for farmers and a thorough discussion in Parliament on the agrarian crisis.

The decision of the JD(S) leader and MP to undertake the hunger strike comes against the backdrop of a controversial statement by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in Parliament yesterday, in which general causes of suicides include love affairs, barrenness of land and impotency.

"Gowda, who is a farmers' leader, will sit on hunger strike at Jantar Mantar to press for demands like a special package for farmers and a thorough discussion in Parliament on the agrarian crisis," his party general secretary Kunwar Danish Ali said today.

He said Gowda is anguished as an increasing number of farmers are committing suicide, particularly in his home state Karnataka.

Over the last three days, at least 29 farmers have committed suicide, Ali said. Referring to the Agriculture Minister's statement, Ali termed it as "obnoxious".

"It amounts to rubbing salt into the wounds of farmers," he said, adding Parliament should discuss the crisis urgently.

When pointed out that Parliament is witnessing a deadlock, the JD(S) leader said it is for the government as well as major opposition parties to end the logjam.