Farmer, son kill selves over debt, new farm laws

Hoshiarpur: A debt-ridden farmer and his son allegedly died by suicide in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur village, saying in a note that they were upset over the Centre’s new farm laws and the state government’s failure to waive their loans. The farmer, Jagtar Singh (70), and his son Kirpal Singh (42) were found dead at their residence in Muhadipur village on Saturday morning, the police said.

Hoshiarpur (Punjab), Feb. 20: A debt-ridden farmer and his son allegedly committed suicide at a village here, mentioning in a note that they were upset over the Centre’s farm laws and the state government’s failure to waive their loans.

Jagtar Singh (70) and his son Kirpal Singh (42) were found dead at their residence in Muhadipur village on Saturday morning, DSP Munish Kumar said.

They had consumed a poisonous substance, the police said.

In a suicide note recovered from their residence, they wrote that they were taking the extreme step because of debt, accusing the Congress government in Punjab of not honouring its promise of waiving their farm loans.

They further mentioned in the note that they were distressed as the Centre did not repeal the new farm laws.

The two owned one acre of land.

The bodies were sent to the Dasuya Civil Hospital for a post-mortem, the police said.

Meanwhile, Opposition SAD and the AAP demanded CM Capt. Amarinder Singh’s resignation.

The lies and deceit of the Congress government have been unmasked, SAD leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said in a statement.

The SAD also asked the Union government to repeal the three agricultural laws.

Jagtar Singh and Kirpal Singh have clearly stated in their suicide note that they were also taking this extreme step due to the agony caused by the Centre’s refusal to listen to the voice of the farming community, said Majithia.