Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria has drawn flak for announcing that farmers who committed suicide would not be entitled to any relief or compensation under the government's Calamity and Relief Fund.
Mr. Kataria, who also holds the Calamity and Relief Portfolio, on Thursday told the State Assembly that “farmers who hang themselves from trees cannot be taken in to account for compensation by the government,” drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition which has accused him of being insensitive to the plight of farmers. Pradesh Congress president Sachin Pilot said it was unfortunate that the government was being discriminatory in providing relief.
