Panel set up to probe suicides

CHANDIGARH, Oct 8: Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Chattar Singh Chauhan has set up a House Committee of members of all parties to probe suicides by debt-ridden farmers.

The seven-member panel has a strong representation from the ruling HVP-BJP combine and its supporters. The two opposition parties 8212; Indian National Lok Dal and Congress 8212; have one member each.

According to Vidhan Sabha Secretary Sumit Kumar, the members nominated for the committee on suicides are Deputy Speaker Faquir Chand Aggarwal, PWD Minister Karan Singh Dalal, Food and Supply Minister Ganeshi Lal and MLAs Sat Pal Sangwan, Ashok Kumar, Dharambir Gauba, and Anil Vij.

The Vidhan Sabha had authorised the Speaker in its sitting on July 22 to set up a panel to study issues related to farmers driven to death by debt and spurious pesticides. The issue was raised by Congress members who sought immediate steps to provide compensation and soft loans to give a reprieve to farmers.