Need impartial probe into farmer's suicide: BJP MP

BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav said on Friday that an "impartial probe" is needed into the suicide of farmer Gajendra Singh, who hanged himself from a tree during an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rally.

"A farmer committed suicide and the rally went on," Yadav said participating in a debate on the issue on Friday in the Rajya Sabha.

"The family said he was not so depressed that he could commit suicide; they also said the handwriting on the suicide note was not his.

"There should be an impartial probe so that people get to know who is responsible for the farmer's death," he said.

Naresh Agarwal of the Samajwadi Party (SP) said the incident was a matter of shame for the country.

"There is no point in arguing whether central government is to be blamed or the state government. A farmer has died and it is a shame for the country," said Agarwal.

"On one hand the farmers are distressed, on the other hand government is decreasing subsidy on seeds, fertilisers and electricity..." he added.

K.C. Tyagi of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) said government ministries are to be blamed for it.

"He is a martyr... like many other farmers. No judicial probe is needed in this, the agriculture ministry, finance ministry and banking, fertiliser and chemical ministry, food ministry, home ministry, commerce ministry, tribal affairs ministry, they are all the culprits," he said.

Both houses of parliament also witnessed a massive uproar over the issue and the Rajya Sabha took up a discussion on the issue after suspending all other business.

Gajendra Singh, who hailed from Rajasthan, had committed suicide on Wednesday by hanging himself from a tree during an AAP rally against the land ordinance in the national capital.