Unable to repay their loans, two farmers allegedly committed suicide in Mahoba and Hamirpur districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Shankar Kushwaha (44) committed suicide by jumping in front of a train in Mahoba on Monday, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Devendra Singh told NDTV.
Manmohan, the victim’s brother said that Shankar was upset as his crop was damaged due to heavy rains. He had taken a loan of Rs. 30,000 from a bank, but could not repay it and committed suicide.
The SDM said a probe has been initiated and due compensation will be given to the farmer’s family once the report arrives.
In Hamipur district, another farmer Ram Khelawan (65) committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree after his crop was damaged. His son Dayashankar said Khelawan, a resident of Saukhar village in Sumerpur area, had taken a loan of Rs 1 lakh which he could not repay.
Tehsildar (Revenue Officer) Raghvendra Sharma said a probe has been ordered to ascertain the reason for his death.
Following the incident, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the condition of farmers, alleging that Yogi Adityanath remembers farmers only in advertisements.
“The UP government has devised new ways to harass the farmers. It has cheated the farmers in the name of loan waiver. Jailed farmers in the name of electricity bill,” Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
उप्र सरकार ने किसानों को परेशान करने के कई तरीके ईजाद किए हैं। कर्जमाफी के नाम पर धोखा किया। बिजली बिल के नाम पर उनको जेल में डाला।
और बाढ़-बारिश से बर्बाद फसल का कोई मुआवजा नहीं मिल रहा है। उप्र में भाजपा सरकार को किसान की याद केवल विज्ञापन में आती है।https://t.co/xWZbVXJNVw
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 9, 2019
No compensation is given for the crops damaged due to floods and rains, the Congress general secretary in-charge UP East alleged.
Also Read: With 15,000 Farmer Suicides Every Year, Agriculture Sector Needs Govt’s Focus