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Farmer suicide: Kejriwal apologises for continuing his speech

by IBNS 24 Apr 2015, 07:58 am

New Delhi, Apr 24 (IBNS): AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Friday apologised for making a speech even after a farmer a hanged himself from a tree during a his party's rally in New Delhi on Wednesday.

"Having said that, I made a mistake; I should have called off the rally," Kejriwal told ANI news agency.

"I will take the blame for it. I freely admit that I am guilty. Now that blame has been appropriated, can we start talking about the farmers? I am willing to say that I am guilty as long as the debate turns to the farmers. Punish the guilty as long as the debate comes back to the issue of the farmers," he said.

Political parties, including the Congress and the BJP, have criticised the  AAP  over the death of the farmer.

The tragic death of famer Gajendra Singh, who hanged himself in full public view at an AAP rally in Delhi on Wednesday, sent a shockwave across the nation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said nothing is more important than human life and there is the need for united efforts to work towards solving farmers' problems.
He also told the Lok Sabha it was time to figure out what wrong steps were taken out that went against farmers.
 
Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement in the Lok Sabha on Gajendra's death and it was a matter not be politicised.
 
Both the houses of  Parliament was rocked over the suicide as the opposition held the government responsible for the plight of farmers.
 In the report submitted to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Police Crime Branch officials add that AAP leaders and workers  instigated Gajendra Singh to commit suicide.
 
The FIR has been registered for abetment and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty.
 
The AAP rally was organised to oppose the proposed land law of the Narendra Modi government, which the opposition has described as "anti-farmer."
 
Police have already sent a notice to the organisers of AAP's anti-Land Acquisition Bill. AAP leaders will also be questioned over the suicide.
 
The notice came after the farmer's  brother claimed that Gajendra was in touch with Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who asked him to attend the rally. He has also said that AAP workers should have saved his brother.
 
Blaming AAP leaders for Gajendra's death, his brother has demanded action against the leaders of the party.
 
"All leaders should have tried to save Gajendra. If immediate action would have been taken my brother would have been alive today. Such people do not deserve to be in politics," he said.
    The Congress and BJP stepped up the heat against AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and his outfit for their inaction during the tragedy.
 
Congress on Thursday morning protested outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
 
They tried to break through the cordon of police and protest.
 
BJP on the other hand protested outside the Delhi Police headquarters demanding action against those who gave abetment to the suicide at AAP rally.
 
Delhi BJP leader Satish Upadhyay said people responsible should be booked.
 
AAP alleged has that the tragedy occurred owing to police inaction and there was an attempt to sabotage their rally.
 
Arvind Kejriwal earlier said the police could have saved the man but did not.

Police said they had warned against holding the rally at the venue because of over-crowding.
 
Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who is an MP from Rajasthan, said the incident "speaks volumes about the people who are protesting for farmers."