Chhattisgarh farmer attempts suicide after failing to get token to sell paddy
Korba (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): A 56-year-old farmer allegedly consumed poison after he failed to obtain the token required to sell paddy at the minimum support price (MSP) in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, officials said on Monday.
Sumer Singh, a resident of Korbi village under Hardibazar police station limits, is undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Korba, and a probe has been ordered, a police official said.
Talking to reporters, Singh's wife Mukund Bai said that her husband consumed pesticide on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, and was initially taken to the Hardibazar health centre and later referred to the district hospital in Korba.
She claimed that their paddy could not be sold at the procurement centre, as the token required for the sale could not be generated because of some errors.
"We have been trying to sell our produce for over a month, but the problem remains unresolved," she said.
Sanjay Shrivas, a resident of Korbi, said that Singh owns 3.75 acres of land in nearby Puta village and has 68 quintals of paddy lying unsold.
He claimed the token could not be generated for nearly one and a half months. Singh does not use a mobile phone.
Shrivas alleged that the issue remained unresolved despite repeated visits to revenue and procurement officials, as well as a complaint lodged during 'Jandarshan' (public grievance hearing).
On receiving information about the incident, Korba Congress MP Jyotsna Mahant visited the hospital on Monday and termed the case "extremely tragic", demanding accountability from the authorities.
"It is painful that in a state that has a tribal chief minister, a tribal farmer has been driven to consume poison. Such incidents did not occur when the Congress government was in power. Officers are acting arbitrarily, and injustice is being done to tribal farmers," she alleged.
District Collector Kunal Dudawat said that the administration has taken note of the matter, and appropriate action is being initiated.
Steps will be taken to ensure that such incidents don't recur, he said.
In a similar incident last month, a 65-year-old farmer had attempted suicide by slitting his throat in Mahasamund district after he allegedly failed to obtain a token to sell his paddy at MSP.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
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Congress’ downfall will start from Baramati if it doesn’t let Sunetra Pawar win unopposed: Bawankule
Nagpur (PTI): The Congress will have to face consequences if it doesn't allow NCP president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to win the Baramati assembly bypoll unopposed, said minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday.
The party’s “downfall” will start from Baramati, he said, stressing that the people of Baramati and Maharashtra wish that she is elected unopposed, said the BJP leader.
The April 23 bye election was necessitated after the tragic death of deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who headed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28. After his death, his wife Sunetra became the party president.
The NCP, BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are partners in the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state.
“The Congress will face consequences if it doesn’t let Sunetra win unopposed from Baramati. Its downfall will start from Baramati if it doesn’t withdraw its candidate,” Bawankule told reporters in Nagpur.
Amid efforts to ensure an unopposed contest, the Congress has fielded advocate Akash More for the bypoll.
The party had said that it would withdraw from the contest only if an FIR were registered in Ajit Pawar’s death in the Baramati plane crash.
Replying to another question, Bawankule said the BJP’s performance will be more robust in Assam and Kerala elections compared to the last assembly polls in these states. Assembly polls are being held in a single phase in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry on Thursday.
“These elections will once again show Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership commanding support among the people,” he said.
