 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Gajendra Singh, who committed suicide at an Aam Aadmi Party rally in Delhi, was cremated at his native village on Thursday in the district, with a large number of people including politicians converging.
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 Bharatiya Janata Party 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. Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family.
According to officials, the farmer’s body was taken on Wednesday 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 on Thursday morning after the ‘baraat’ (wedding party) left the village.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot were among those present on Thursday.
“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 on Wednesday in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The cremation took place around 12:15 pm.
Image: Farmers lay Gajendra Singh to rest in Dausa after he killed himself at an AAP rally. Photograph: ANI/Twitter