Hundreds of Farmer Suicides: Saddled With Debts Without Relief

On an average, at least two farmers have been committing suicide a day in Telangana State just this Kharif (harvested during the monsoon) season that is set to come to a close in the next 2-3 weeks. Trapped with insurmountable debts, In the last four months, nearly 250 have died.

The Times of India, November 2 2014, HYDERABAD: The Communist Party of India (Maoist) announced its return to action in Telangana on Saturday by calling for a one-day bandh on November 8 to protest the ‘inept policies’ of the TRS government that is resulting in farmer suicides.

In a statement, the party’s North Telangana Special Zone Committee (NTSZC) spokesperson Jagan said that chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had claimed that Naxalites were true patriots during his election campaign and that he would implement their agenda when he comes to power.On the contrary, KCR was behaving in the same manner as the earlier chief ministers by trying to suppress free speech, Jagan said. The Maoist leader also charged KCR with making irresponsible statements blaming the previous governments for not being able to supply farmers with at least three hours of power every day.

The CPI (Maoist) also held the chief minister responsible for the spate of suicides in the past few months. “KCR has been making statements that the power situation would be the same for the next three years. This has resulted in depression among farmers who have been taking their lives,” the statement said.

The government has to take responsibility for the suicides numbering more than 265 so far in the past few months, the statement said and requested people from all sections of society to join the bandh.