No let-up in farm suicides: SAD

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16

The Shiromani Akali Dal on Wednesday said the farmers’ suicide had exposed the fraudulent farm loan waiver scheme of the state government and also revealed how “kurki” (recovery) proceedings against marginal farmers were forcing them to take the extreme step.

Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said the fact that five farmers chose to end their lives after claims of the government that its supposed loan waiver exercise was a success had exposed the party.

He said as per facts, the suicide rate was higher in districts like Bathinda and Sangrur, where the fake loan waiver scheme had been launched by the government.

“These districts have witnessed an increase in suicide cases in the past few months, with the total number going up to 450,” he added.

Majithia said it had also come to light that the suicide rate was increasing because the State Cooperative Department had started “kurki” proceedings to attach the land of small farmers who had to pay Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh. “This has been happening for the first time since 1986,” he said.

Asking the government as to what had happened to its pre-election slogan “Karja Kurki Khatam, Fasal di Poori Rakam”, the Akali leader said the slogan seemed to have been coined to fool the farmers for votes.