Widespread protests over farmer’s death

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 14

Even as the state government has ordered a probe into alleged suicide by a farmer of Udham Singh Nagar district in the state a few days back, this latest case of farmer’s death, fourth in the state, has caused widespread resentment.

The victim, Balwinder Singh of Bajpur in Udham Singh Nagar district, who had allegedly taken a loan to the tune of Rs 7 lakh, committed suicide after receiving a notice from the bank. The state government was forced to order a probe into the matter as it did not rule out even personal reasons behind the farmer’s death, further infuriating farmers in the state.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has yet again reiterated its demand for waiving farmers’ loans in the state. BKU leader Ajit Singh Randhawa threatened to launch a widespread agitation in the state if the state government did not waive the loan of the victim within four days, besides providing a government job to his wife.

The Kisan Sangharsh Samiti has protested over farmer suicides in the state. Samiti president Balwant Singh today accused the state government of being totally insensitive towards farmers’ plight. He also threatened to hold widespread farmer agitations in the state if the farmers’ loans were not waived within 10 days.