India: Over 3.10 lakh farmers killed themselves due to wrong

Bhopal (MP), Oct 28 (PTI) Hindutva leader Pravin Togadia Sunday claimed over 3.10 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the country, which he said is the fallout of the "wrong policies" of the last 25 years.

Speaking to reporters here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, where assembly elections are scheduled to be held on November 28, Togadia appealed to ruling parties to start waiving loans of farmers in their respective states.

He also asked farmers to not elect leaders who neglect their demands.

"Over 3.10 lakh farmers have committed suicide due to indebtedness in the country which is a result of poor policies being adopted in the last 25 years," he said.

Togadia said the farmers in the country wanted implementation of the report of the Swaminathan Commission and waiver of crop loan, apart from granting the MSP (Minimum Support Price) at one-and-a-half times the cost of production."

He said no political party has kept its promise of implementing the commission report leaving farmers unhappy.

In Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, farmers were killed in police firing last year," he said.

Togadia said he had appealed to farmers against electing leaders who neglect their demands.

"Such leaders (who won't accept farmers' demand) would not be allowed to enter villages. I have given a slogan 'Abki Baar Kisano ki Sarkar'," he said.

Togadia evaded a direct reply to a query on the delay in construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and said, "I will only talk about farmers today".

Replying to a query on visit by leaders of Congress and BJP to temples during the elections, he said, "When a person does not have any other hope he goes to (visit) God".

He parried a question on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Mahakal temple in Ujjain Monday and said, "Arre Modi ji Ayodhya Jayen Tab Manenge" (I will believe when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ayodhya).

When asked about setting up of his new political outfit, Togadia said, "I have already made announcement to constitute a new political party. Its name is yet to be finalised".

He said his political outfit would contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

Togadia currently heads Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) after he fell out with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Earlier in the day, he addressed a rally of farmers in the Madhya Pradesh capital.

Togadia said he would address a rally of farmers in Uttar Pradesh soon.