Farmer suicide: Jaitley defends Agri Minister Singh, cites UPA replies

Radha Mohan Singh had in a reply in Rajya Sabha on Friday listed "indebtedness, crop failure, drought, socio-economic and personal" as reasons for agrarian distress

As a controversy brewed over a list of reasons given by his colleague Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh for suicide by farmers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday dug out written replies in Parliament during the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, listing out ‘love affair’ as one of the several reasons for suicides.

“Replies given in Parliament on the issue of farmer’s suicide during the UPA government,” Jaitley tweeted attaching four answers given during March 2012 and February 2014 in both Houses of Parliament. On Friday, a written reply in Parliament to a question on the sensitive issue of farmer suicides in the country earned Singh severe criticism, as he listed dowry, love affairs and impotency as some causes of suicide. Jaitely highlighted ‘love affair’ in the list of reasons given by then minister of state for agriculture and food processing industries Charan Das Mahant to the Rajya Sabha on March 30, 2012.

The other reply is attached was that of then Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar given to Lok Sabha on February 2, 2013, highlighting ‘love affair’ besides unemployment, property dispute, bankruptcy or sudden change in economic status, poverty, career problem, barrenness/impotency, cancellation/non-settlement of marriage, dowry dispute and fall in social reputation as causes of suicides.

Jaitley listed the minister’s reply in Rajya Sabha on August 16, 2013 as well as of then Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Tarif Anwar in Rajya Sabha on February 21, 2014 listing similar reasons for the suicides.

Radha Mohan Singh had in a reply in Rajya Sabha yesterday listed “indebtedness, crop failure, drought, socio-economic and personal” as reasons for agrarian distress.

“According to NCRB, causes of suicide include family problems, illness, drug abuse/addiction, unemployment, property dispute, professional/career problems, love affairs, barrenness/impotency, cancellation/non-settlement of marriage, dowry dispute, fall in social reputation and unknown causes," he had also said.