Farmers' protests reignite in MP, Naidu calls loan waivers 'fashionable'

June 22, 2017 12:39

Just in: Madhya Pradesh: Protesting farmers from Sivani, Malwa and Banapur block railway tracks and stop trains, in Hoshangabad.

On Tuesday, two farmers allegedly committed suicide in separate incidents in Madhya Pradesh, as the state continues to be hit by violent protests by farmers over plummeting crop prices and ballooning debts.

A 40-year-old farmer, Babulal Verma from Hoshangabad district died after he attempted self-immolation last Thursday and 65-year-old Laxmi Gomasta killed himself in Narsinghpur district after consuming poison on Monday night.

The total number of farmer suicides in the state has now risen to 17 since the protests started on June 6 in Mandsaur by farmers, who have been demanding loan waivers and better prices for their produce.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today said that waiving of crop loans has become a 'fashion' these days.

The BJP leader said that loans should be waived off, but in extreme circumstances. He opined that loan waiver is not the final solution for the betterment of the farmers.

Criticising Naidu's statement over loan waiver, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said 36-40,000 farmers have committed suicide in the last three years, therefore calling loan waiver fashionable is a disrespect to our 'anndaata' (farmers)."

Image: Farmers block railway tracks in Hoshangabad.

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