If you die, your families will come to the streets, Kumaraswamy tells farmers

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has requested the farmers not to commit suicide in spite of all the troubles that they faced.

Speaking at the JD(S) district farmers’ conference at Adyanthaya Rangamandira here on Monday, he said that the national parties, which were suppose to discuss the issue of suicide by farmers, were busy speaking on beef and pork, which was unfortunate.

When farmers commit suicide unable to pay their loans, a few people have commented that they (farmers) had lost money in lottery and gambling and hence took the extreme step, he said hitting out at NICE Chief and Legislator Ashok Kheny.

“Some farmers feel that if they commit suicide, their families might come out from debt crisis with the help of compensation. But, I swear, no national political parties will come to your help after your death. It is already proved. Your family will come to the streets. Till date, more than 600 farmers have committed suicide in the State, but only 170 have got compensation from the State government. The JD(S) would distribute Rs 50,000 as compensation to every family,” he said.

“This government will last for two years and a pro-farmer government will come to power. If the farmers suicide doesn’t stop by the end of this month, I will start an indefinite hunger strike in spite of health problems,” he said.

MLA B B Ningaiah, Kadur MLA Y S V Datta, District president Manjappa were present among others.