New Delhi: Distress, drought and failure to repay loan are not the only factors behind farmers' suicides in the country and there are other reasons also which go "unnoticed", a senior Cabinet minister said on Friday.
Rural Development Minister Birender Singh also said Gajendra Singh, a Rajasthan farmer who committed suicide here on Wednesday at an AAP rally, did not take the extreme step to protest the controversial Land Bill.
"He was participating in a political rally. There has to be some elements of politics also," he told reporters here.
He said the suicide note found on Singh had "no mention" of land bill but some other reasons like his father renouncing him.
Responding to a volley of questions, the minister said while distress, failure to repay loans and damaged crop due to drought and other reasons are some of the factors behind suicides by farmers, there are other reasons which go unnoticed.
His remarks came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Lok Sabha yesterday that the agriculture community's problems are "old, deep-rooted and widespread" which need to be addressed collectively and expressed willingness to accept any suggestion with an open mind.
To a poser on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal apologising for not calling off the event when Singh committed suicide and admitted that his making a speech was a "mistake", Birender Singh said he is in a "habit" of seeking apology.
"He ran the government for 49 days...When the (Delhi) elections were nearing, he apologised for resigning. It is his habit. He has done that before," the minister said.
Refusing to take questions on the land bill, he said the press conference is on Panchayati Raj diwas and such questions can be raised in an event of the Rural Development Ministry.
He, however, said the amendment to Land Act passed in 2013 has a provision that gram sabhas be consulted before acquisition of land.
He was asked whether he would like to comment on the Panchayati Raj divas whether such institutions were consulted before NDA government brought fresh amendments to the Act.
