Bhubaneswar: Odisha Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy on Sunday once again landed in soup for making scornful comments on farmer suicide issues in the state.
The Pipili strongman said farmers only die during the assembly sessions. “The deaths are often alleged to be the case of suicide over crop loss even though the people die due to any other reasons and the department is blamed for such deaths,” he said.
“Farmers in Odisha are brave and have self esteem. They never resort to such a cowardly act like suicide,” Maharathy added.
Maharathy's comments drew severe criticisms from Congress and BJP.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra flayed Maharathy’s statement. He said that cases of farmer suicides are reported from across the State throughout the year. Where he (Maharathy) learnt that farmers only commit suicide during Assembly sessions, Mishra asked? Most of the deaths are mostly related to farming issues, he said.
The BJP also lashed out at state government for Maharathy’s such irresponsible comments saying that the chief minister is trying to cover up all mistakes of his ministers.