Two days after a farmer hanged himself in front of thousands of people at an Aam Aadmi Party rally in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal apologised on Friday for not calling off the meeting and making a speech after the suicide. “I think I was wrong, I should not have spoken. I didn’t think of it at that time. I apologise if I hurt anyone,” Mr. Kejriwal, who has faced enormous criticism over his handling of the incident, said.
However, he insisted that the focus should not deviate from farmers’ issues.
“I am guilty. Blame me. But please focus on the real issue of the farmers and desist from politicking. Whoever is guilty hang him, but the focus of the debate should be on why the farmers are committing suicide,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
Apology makes no difference, say farmer’s kin
The family members of the farmer Gajendra Singh who committed suicide during an Aam Aadmi Party rally in Delhi said the Chief Minister’s belated apology for not calling off the party rally after the incident made no difference to them.
“What will happen now after this apology? My brother has died. Kejriwal did not stop the rally for even two minutes after the incident,” Gajendra’s sister Rekha told presspersons at his village in Dausa district of Rajasthan.
The Aam Aadmi Party has been criticised for the conduct of its senior leaders and the statements they made in the immediate aftermath of the suicide.
