Bhubaneswar, Oct. 17: A farmer today reportedly committed suicide in Nuapada even as chief minister Naveen Patnaik met a group of peasants at his residence and assured them help to tide over the drought situation in the state.
The farmer, Gajendaram Majhi, a resident of Kuliabandha village under Sadar block in Nuapada district, allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison. He died at the Nuapada hospital, where he had been admitted for treatment.
So far this year, around 40 farmers have reportedly committed suicide in the state.
Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy, however, dismissed reports of farmer suicides in the state.
"Till now, not a single case of farmer suicide has been proved. We are waiting for reports from the district collectors concerned on this issue," Maharathy said.
The Opposition attacked the government for downplaying the farmer suicide cases in the state.
BJP legislature party leader Basant Panda said: "It is really unfortunate that attempts have been made by the BJD leaders to sidestep the issue of farmer suicides."
Referring to Naveen's meeting with the group of farmers at his residence, former Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said: "We have no objections if their workers meet their leader. But tacit attempt made by the BJD to hoodwink the people is really unfortunate."
The farmers who met the chief minister today had gone to Naveen Nivas to thank him for announcing a package for drought-affected farmers.
Sources said Majhi had taken a loan of Rs 25,000 from a local co-operative bank and another Rs 15,000 from his friends and relatives to carry out cultivation in his five acres of land. He had lost the crop due to scanty rainfall and this drove him to commit suicide.
His village, Kuliabandha, has been adopted by BJD-backed Rajya Sabha member A.V. Swamy. "We are yet to ascertain whether he died by consuming poison or because of an overdose of liquor," he said.
Soon after Majhi's death, a delegation of BJP leaders led by Panda, who is also the local MLA, rushed to the hospital and announced that the party would take up the farmer suicides issue in the upcoming winter session of the Assembly.
The local Red Cross unit has donated Rs 15,000 to the deceased family.
