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This is an archive article published on February 19, 2016

After calling farmer suicides ‘fashion trend’, BJP MP regrets choice of words

"Not all farmers' suicides happen due to unemployment and starvation. A fashion is going on. A trend is on," said Shetty, MP from north Mumbai.

Farmer suicide, BJP MP Farmer Suicide, Maharashtra Farmer suicides, Farmer Suicide issue BJP MP Gopal Shetty.

A day after kicking up a storm for terming farmer suicides a “fashion trend”, BJP MP Gopal Shetty Thursday went into damage control mode and said he should have been more careful with his words.

“This discussion on the growing competition between states for compensating farmers who commit suicide was held in the Lok Sabha as well. Instead of the word competition, I uttered the word fashion which has led to this controversy,” said Shetty.

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While speaking on the sidelines of an event in his constituency Wednesday, Shetty had said: “All suicides do not happen because of unemployment or hunger. A fashion trend is going on these days. If the Maharashtra Government is giving Rs 5 lakh as compensation, the other state gives 7 and the next 8 lakh. There is competition in giving compensation to farmers.” As his remarks invited sharp criticism from the opposition, Shetty on Thursday said he should have been more careful.

“I know how those words would have sounded to a common man, let alone a farmer. My intention though was not to hurt anyone…I wanted to say that rather than having this competition among state governments there should be some long term steps that need to be taken to stop this from happening rather then distributing money. That is what I wanted to suggest. However, instead of the word competition. I said fashion,” said Shetty. Explaining his remark, Shetty said he was pushing for concrete steps to tackle farmer suicides instead of just monetary compensation.

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise  Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

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