New Delhi, farmer commits suicide during anti-corruption demonstration
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The funeral were held this morning of the farmer who committed suicide yesterday in New Delhi, during a demonstration organized by the anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party (Aap) against the controversial Land Acquisition Bill.
The bill aims to facilitate land grabs by large companies at the expense of farmers. The man, identified as Gajendra Singh, climbed a tree and hanged himself before the eyes of Arwind Kejriwal, Delhi chief minister and GPA leader, other politicians and thousands of people. The protest was taking place at the Jantar Mantar complex, near the Parliament.
The farmer was rushed to the nearest hospital, but there was nothing to be done. The police found a note on the suicide site, in which he said he was a farmer and his crop was destroyed. Singh had also written his family’s phone number.
According to AAP leaders, the man hanged himself at about two in the afternoon. Politicians accused the police of being a "mute spectator" of what was happening. Before rushing the victim to the hospital, Kejriwal said: "We kept asking the agents to take him down. The police may not be at our command, but they could have at least shown a hint of humanity. "
The farmer’s extreme gesture has sparked heated controversy in India. First of all, the circumstances of his death are still unclear. According to some, Gajendra Singh was "close" to Manish Sisodia, number two in the anti-corruption party, and attended the event at the politicians invitation. Others argue that there was no question of suicide, but of a "tragic accident".
Others accuse the AAP of not immediately calling a halt to the protest, but of "exploiting" the man's death. Land Acquisition Bill detractors accuse the BJP - promoter of the law – of trying to approve an "anti-farmer" law.
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