Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje’s ‘Gaurav Yatra is her ‘Vidai Yatra’, says Ashok Gehlot

Jaipur: Citing suicide by one more farmer in Rajasthan on Sunday, former state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday dubbed Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s “Gaurav Yatra” as “Vidai Yatra”. In a Facebook post, Gehlot questioned Raje as to which “gaurav” (honour) she is trying to boast of at a time when the state is witnessing a high rate of suicides by farmers. He wrote that it is a shame for Rajasthan that the farmers are killing themselves due to extreme financial hardship. He referred to a physically challenged farmer Mangalam Meghwal (30), who was found hanging at his house on Sunday morning.

According the family of deceased farmer, he had taken a loan of Rs 2.98 lakh from the Punjab National Bank, out of which he had returned Rs 1.95 lakh. But as the remaining part was unpaid, on the bank’s suggestion, the SDM on August 2 ordered for actioning of his 3.05-hectare land. On August 7, the land was to be auctioned and the stressed man committed suicide two days prior to it. The family of the deceased and farmer leaders refused to collect his body unless the auction order was cancelled. They relented only after the administration assured that they would look into the matter. Gehlot said that at a time when farmers of Rajasthan are facing tough times, such yatra raises several questions on the state government.

The state government has failed on all fronts, including providing relief to the farmers. “But surprisingly, the state government seems unwilling to accept the fact that a large number of farmers have committed suicide,” he said. (IANS)