Kejriwal offers suggestions to end farmers' plight

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday listed three measures that he feels will help farmers with their issues, ultimately deterring them from committing suicide.

Kejriwal's suggestions came after farmer Gajendra Singh committed suicide at an Aam Aadmi Party rally against the Land Acquisition Bill.

"Broadly, I can see only three major things here: firstly, if we all as a country accept this that the land of farmers will not be snatched without their consent. This is a major issue for the farmers," Kejriwal told ANI.

"Second issue is that the farmers should get fair price for their crops. According to the Swaminathan Report, farmers should receive at least 50 percent more than the weighted average cost of production. If farmers start to get fair price for their crops, why would they commit suicide?" he added.

Kejriwal also called for farmers to receive their due compensation in times of crop loss.

"If farmers lose their crops, then its compensation should be his right and not it should not depend on some chief minister's pity. It should be formula-based. The farmer should be tension free, knowing that if his crops have been destroyed, then the government will come to his rescue," he said.

He also said that he is willing to take the blame for farmer Gajendra Singh's public suicide at an Aam Aadmi Party rally in the national capital, as long as the debate veers back to the plight of the farmers in the country.

Gajendra had committed suicide on Wednesday by hanging himself from a tree during an Aam Aadmi Party rally against the Land Acquisition Bill in New Delhi.

As per reports, a suicide note was found that revealed the farmer, who had three children, was banished from his house after his crop was damaged. He took the extreme step because he had no means of support his family.