Mysuru: Karnataka Agriculture Minister BC Patil has once again made controversy by saying farmers who kill themselves by suicide are weak souls and the government should not be blamed for such deaths.
The statement was given in the context of farmer deaths at Tikri and Singhu border where the farmers have been agitating against the government for the last 56 days to repeal the newly induced agriculture laws.
Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, Patil said that the farmers who have ended their lives by suicide are mentally unstable. The policies of the government should not be blamed for their deaths. Not only farmers but even industrialists commit suicide. All suicides cannot be painted with the same brush, Patil said.
"We chalk out and implement hundreds of policies, schemes and programmes for the welfare of the farmers. Our main agenda is to bring happiness to the farmers. The suicide of farmers will not stop by just visiting the house of the deceased farmer, garland his body and condole his death. We have to chalk out plans for the welfare of farmers. The free capacity-building programmes to inculcate entrepreneurship and technical skills in food processing among aspiring and existing entrepreneurs by Mysuru-based CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) is one such initiative, Patil added.
Earlier on December 3 in Kodagu district, Patil had said farmers who end their lives without thinking about the future of their dependents are cowards, which was widely criticised by the opposition.
Also Read: Farmers who commit suicide are cowards: Karnataka Agri Minister
