Farmer cremated as politicians make a beeline for village

DAUSA, Rajasthan: Gajendra Singh, who committed suicide at an Aam Aadmi Party rally in Delhi, was today cremated at his native village in the district, with a large number of people including politicians converging here.

Singh’s elder son Bittu, 12, performed the last rites after the body was taken in a large procession for cremation.

Leaders from both ruling BJP and opposition Congress announced assistance for the family. Arun Chaturvedi, Rajasthan Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, said BJP would pay a compensation of Rs four lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased.

Chaturvedi said Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is also likely to announce ex-gratia for the farmer’s family.

State Congress chief Sachin Pilot said his party would support the family in whatever way possible.

According to officials, the farmer’s body was taken last night to Rajgarh in Alwar district, which is 30 km away from his village Nangal Jhamarwada. Due to his niece’s wedding, the body was brought to the village only this morning after the ‘baraat’ (wedding party) left the village.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot were among those present today.

“It is a very tragic incident and we are here to offer whatever support we can to the family. Farmers are distraught and feeling helpless…. There has been a system failure,” Pilot said.

Gehlot said it was clear that the government was not taking the issue seriously and demanded that it announce a package for the farmers.

A pall of gloom has descended on the village after 41-year-old Singh, a father of three, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in public view at an AAP rally yesterday in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The cremation took place around 12:15 hours. Local MLA Alka Gurjar, NPP leader and MLA K L Meena, former union minister N N Meena and senior officials including Divisional Commissioner and Superintendent pf Police of Dausa were present during the cremation, SHO Bandikui Laxmi Kant Sharma said.

Dausa is about 60 kms from Rajasthan capital Jaipur. -PTI