Right to Information documents (these are official documents of the Gujarat government) clearly admit that 498 farmers committed suicide in Gujarat. And another 6,695 apparently died in "accidents". Un-sexy story number three. Rakesh Sharma's new film Khedu Mora Re (62 minutes) graphically documents the phenomenon of farmer suicides in Gujarat. The film itself reports 10-12 suicides in Amreli, Surendranagar, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Bharuch and Surat. The RTI data reveals shocking district-wise figures - Rajkot (63 suicides), Junagad (85), Amreali (34), Mehsana (48), Nadiad (44), Jamnagar (55), Narmada (30) and even in Gandhinagar (13), right under the Chief Minister's nose!
RE:advocaters of crime - Blood Monger - Killers
by Vinal Gandhi on Dec 05, 2007 10:26 PM Permalink
Mr. Karunanidhi. each death is regrettable but how many of these 498 were due to government apathy or lack of support? Many of them were due to personal disputes. Besides, the figure is minuscule compared to the deaths reported in congress ruled states like Maharashtra, AP and Karnataka. It is ironic that farmers of Gujarat got rich by sowing cotton and the farmers of Maharashtra had to commit suicide for low cotton price! Against the MSP of Rs.500.00 per bale of cotton as fixed by CCI, the average price of cotton fatched in Gujarat is Rs.550.00.
