Farmers who commit suicide are cowards: Karnataka Agri Minister

"The farmers who commit suicide are cowards. Only a coward who can't take care of his wife and children commits suicide. When we have fallen (in the water), we have to swim and win," BC Patil, Minister for Agriculture, said addressing farmers at Ponnampet in Kodagu district of Karnataka.

Madikeri (Karnataka):Even as food growers continue to protest in the national capital seeking the withdrawal of newly-enacted agricultural laws, Karnataka's minister for agriculture BC Patil said "farmers who commit suicide are no less than cowards," sparking a massive row.

"The farmers who commit suicide are cowards. Only a coward who can't take care of his wife and children commits suicide. When we have fallen (in the water), we have to swim and win," Patil said addressing farmers at Ponnampet in Kodagu district of Karnataka.

The minister was speaking to bamboo growers of Ponnampet.

To buttress his point, Patil cited the example of a woman who was wearing gold bangles.

"When I enquired with her how her hands were full of gold bangles, you know what she said? She said it was the gift of mother earth for her 35-years of toil."

Doesn't it please you all after listening to it?" Patil asked.

He then went on to ask if a woman who depended on agriculture could 'achieve' something like this, why can't other farmers.

The former chief minister of Karnataka H D Kumaraswamy (HDK) condemned the Minister's statement. HDK took to Twitter and posted a tweet, accusing Patil of disrespecting the farming community.

"It's a disrespect to the farmers. He should apologise for it," he said.

Congress also slammed the minister for his remarks, stating that these were disrespectful to the farming community.