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Shiv Sena, Opposition target BJP over farmer suicide

Veteran legislator Ganpatrao Deshmukh of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) pointed out that so far, farmers had committed suicides in their fields and houses and added that Kadam had to come to Mantralaya as he could not get his problems redressed at the local level.

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Leaders from Opposition parties stage a protest against 24-year-old farmer Madhav Kadam’s death, at Vidhan Bhavan on Monday
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The BJP-led state government came under fire not just from the opposition — Congress and NCP — but also from ruling ally Shiv Sena over the death of drought-affected Nanded farmer Madhav Kadam who passed away after attempting suicide outside the state administrative headquarters of Mantralaya.

Kadam, who was seeking compensation for his failed crops and drought, attempted suicide outside Mantralaya on March 23 and passed away in a Mumbai hospital on March 26. Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil raised the issue in the state legislative assembly on Monday. Jayant Patil of the NCP called for the house to pay tributes to the deceased farmer.

Veteran legislator Ganpatrao Deshmukh of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) pointed out that so far, farmers had committed suicides in their fields and houses and added that Kadam had to come to Mantralaya as he could not get his problems redressed at the local level.

Revenue minister Eknath Khadse, who is also the state's agriculture minister, said that the state had given Kadam the necessary compensation. He added that Kadam had been told that while the state government had decided to compensate cotton farmers, the amount would be given after orders were issued. "They (opposition) are only focused on politics, and not anything beyond that," charged Khadse.

However, Shiv Sena MLA from Nanded (South) Hemant Patil noted that the 24-year old Kadam was from his constituency and was his activist and added that when he (Patil) went to visit the deceased's family with Sena MLA from Loha-Kandhar, Pratap Patil Chikhalikar, they cried looking at their condition. He questioned the government about the action to be taken against officers responsible.

"As a MLA from the ruling side, I feel genuinely ashamed," said Patil, adding that while Khadse said that Rs 4,000 had been paid to Kadam, this amount mattered for little.

"If farmer suicides happen when we are in power, then what answer should we give to the people?" questioned Patil, noting that fighting on peoples' issues and organising agitations had led them to shift to the treasury benches.
Patil said Kadam, who had met the tehsildar and district collector for redressal, had also attempted suicide on December 15. The Opposition also protested on the issue in the house.

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