Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal has said corruption is one of the major factors behind farmer suicides in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, and the Jan Lokpal Bill will bring relief to the distressed peasants.
“Despite whopping amounts sanctioned by the government to curb suicides in the region, it is not reaching the needy farmers because of corruption,” Mr. Kejriwal, who was in Amravati to address a public meeting organised by People for India Forum at Shivaji BPEd College, told reporters last evening.
Farmers are not getting proper price for their cotton; the prices have been kept low deliberately, it’s all happening because of corruption, he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Kejriwal said he was not claiming that all agrarian crises will end after introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill, “but it will definitely give some relief to distressed farmers. I can assure that farmers will not commit suicides.”
On the Nagpur incident, he accused the media of spreading “false stories” about the programme, even though it was held properly.
“When I learnt that some people waived black flags I requested volunteers to call those people who’re demonstrating at the venue but when our volunteers reached there, police had nabbed them. Those people are also part of our country and I wanted to talk to them but before that police rounded them up,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
ADVERTISEMENT
He appealed to the media to exercise restraint or else it spoils the atmosphere.
Speaking about the controversial blog and journalist Raju Parulekar’s claim that Anna wanted to remove Mr. Kejriwal and others from the team, he said: “I don’t know why Raju made this statement. There are no differences between Anna and me.
Only he (Raju) can explain better (about the issue).”