BJP delegation stopped in Hooghly by TMC workers

A high-level BJP delegation led by party's national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh, which was on its way to meet financially starved potato farmers, was stopped in Haripal area of Hooghly district by Trinamool Congress workers today.

The police later on took control of the situation and made way for the delegation.

BJP, which was trying to focus on the potato farmers' suicide issue, had planned a high-level party delegation visit to the Hooghly district, which in recent months has witnessed instances of potato farmers in distress due to failure to sell their produce.

"We were stopped at Haripal in Tarakeshwar by TMC workers. Our convoy was stopped. Then we got down from the car and started walking. They abused us and even pushed us. Few of them pushed me when I tried to walk with my party leaders," Singh told PTI.

Singh alleged the potato farmers who had come to meet the BJP delegation were stopped by the TMC workers.

"Some four-five thousand potato workers had come down to meet us. They were stopped. But still few hundred managed to meet us and register their grievances. The state has done nothing to solve their problems. They have been left in the cold to fend for themselves," Singh said.

Becharam Manna, a TMC MLA and MoS from Hooghly district denied BJP's allegations and said the delegation had come to create disturbances.

Slamming the West Bengal government over potato farmers' suicides, Siddharth Nath Singh yesterday had said wrong agricultural policies of the state government had triggered the spate of farmers' suicides.

Several potato farmers had committed suicide, allegedly driven by financial distress for not getting remunerative prices for their produce in West Bengal.

Farmer commits suicide in Malda
A potato farmer today allegedly committed suicide in West Bengal's Malda district after consuming pesticide.

Police said one Foring Ghosh (52) committed suicide after he failed to repay the loan he had taken for potato farming in Olghar area.

He was taken by villagers to Hatimari health centre where he died.

This is the second incident of suicide of farmer after one committed suicide in March 26 at the Bamungola block.