His name on son’s suicide note, MP blames destiny

However, he admitted that when his father Jagdamba Prasad was admitted to hospital for 18 days, he could manage to spare just half-an-hour to be with him. ‘‘Shakti was with his baba all the time. Maybe, he thought I was being selfish by not visiting my father during his illness.’’

Singh denied that he was strict with his children, which may have been one of the reasons for Shakti’s suicide. ‘‘The TV serials have spoiled these children, who think that parents should mingle with children like friends. We, old-timers cannot do this,’’ he said.

The sudden death of Shakti, who was fond of swimming and working out in the gym, has come as a shock to his mother Ketki. ‘‘We don’t know what made him take this step,’’ she said. ‘‘He used to write poems.”

Shakti’s sister Shalini, and brothers Prateek and Karan, were seen sticking to their mother today, in an obvious show of support. Surprisingly, they said they were unaware of any suicide note.

They dismissed suggestions that Shakti had differences with his father. ‘‘This is all wrong. He (Shakti) was so scared of him that he hardly spoke to him.’’ What surprised Ketki was that Shakti used to confide everything to her. ‘‘If something was bothering him, he would have told me about it.’’

Shakti had helped his father during his recent LS poll campaign but the suicide note said, ‘‘My utility is only for going to invitations and attending marriages. After the elections, I am of no use to you.’’

Singh denies this charge: ‘‘I was planning to get him married. But his fate was destined like this. Now anyone can say anything while he is gone.”