Magisterial probe ordered into farmer's suicide

Coming in the line of fire from the opposition, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today announced a magisterial RPT magisterial probe into the suicide of a sugarcane farmer here in front of state legislature building during the ongoing winter session.
The announcement came as the House was rocked by the suicide issue, with BJP members creating a ruckus by staging a dharna in the Well and demanding the Chief Minister's resignation blaming him for the "murder" of the farmer. The House was adjourned twice following commotion.
"A magisterial enquiry will be conducted into the suicide of Vittal Bheemappa Arabhavi, who had consumed pesticide outside the legislature building yesterday," the Chief Minister said.

The probe will go into the circumstances under which Arabhavi committed suicide, he said.
The 60-year-old farmer consumed pesticide during a protest along with hundreds of others against "inadequate" minimum support price fixed by the state-run Sugarcane Control Board for the crop.
Siddaramaiah also refuted the charges of KJP President B S Yeddyurappa, who alleged that the government and the Chief Minister were responsible for Arabhavi's suicide.

"Our government is not responsible for the farmer's suicide since we have been taking adequate measures to alleviate the problems of not only farmers but also other sections of society," the Chief Minister said.

He said as many as 180 farmers committed suicide during 2008-09, 140 in 2009-10, 117 in 2010-11 and 117 in 2011-12.
"In spite of so many deaths, has any Chief Minister tendered resignation? No government will abet suicide," he retorted.
He also gave an assurance to take punitive action against sugar factory managements failing to comply with the Minimum Support Price of Rs 2,500 per tonne fixed.
Opposition leader JDS H D Kumaraswamy demanded a debate on the issue.