Rajasthan farmer says will kill self, minister says ‘go ahead’

Apparently annoyed with a distressed farmer in Rajasthan who threatened to commit suicide, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan allegedly told him to ‘go ahead’.

The incident took place at a fair in Tonk, a video of which appeared on social media. After the minister arrived as chief guest, the farmer, Giriraj Jat, spoke to those on stage. As he was leaving, apparently unsatisfied, he said, “atmahatya karlenge phir saab (I’ll commit suicide then)”, to which Balyan allegedly said “kar le phir ja (go ahead)”.

Balyan later said the farmer did not use the word “suicide” before him, but to the media. “He said he’ll complain about the MLA, I said go ahead. He didn’t use the word ‘suicide’ in front of me,” Balyan said.