Haryana minister says farmers committing suicide 'criminals'

A minister in Haryana on Tuesday courted controversy after he said that farmers committing suicide were criminals under the law.

Agriculture Minister O.P. Dhankar told media here that the state government could not support farmers who were committing suicide.

He said that the farmers who were committing suicide were running away from their responsibilities and leaving their families and children with liabilities.

Dhankar, who earlier headed the Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Cell, used to condemn the earlier UPA government for not doing much for farmers which was leading to increasing suicides.