Haryana Agriculture Minister and BJP MP JP Dalal on Saturday said farmers would have died even stayed back home. Mr Dalal was responding to a media query about over 200 farmers' deaths during the ongoing protest. The video has been circulating on social media and has been receiving sharp criticism from people and opposition.
“Had they been at their homes, they would have died there also. Listen to me, out of one to two lakh, do not 200 people die in six months? Someone is dying of a heart attack and someone after falling ill”, Dalal said while responding in Hindi.
He went on adding, “They did not die by accident. They died by their own will. My heartfelt sympathy is with those who have died.”
Farmers in large numbers have been protesting against the Centre’s farm laws at various Delhi border points, facing cold weather, rain and police brutality. Farmers have died of different reasons including heart attack, suicide and freezing cold.
Dalal faces criticism for his comments
The Haryana Minister’s statements didn’t go well with people and many demanded his resignation from the state cabinet.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed Dalal over his remarks and said an “insensitive” person can only say such a thing.
“Only an insensitive and uncultured person can use such words for annadata who are struggling for their demands. But, yet, they do not feel ashamed. Haryana’s Agriculture Minister JP Dalal, who had earlier called farmers Pakistan and China supporters, should be dismissed from the state's Council of Ministers", Surjewala Twitted.
Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja too hit out at Dalal for his statement and said, “This reaction and laughter of the Haryana agriculture minister on the sacrifice of our farmer brothers are very sad,” she said in a tweet.
Punjab Congress leader Raj Kumar Verka also demanded Dalal’s resignation from the Haryana Cabinet over his remarks terming it as “insensitive”.
Dalal issues apologies
After his comments drew a sharp backlash the Haryana Minister said his statements were twisted and ‘wrong meaning’ was attached to it.
"If anybody is hurt by it, I tender my apology,” he said, adding he would continue to work for farmers’ welfare. He then stated that it is painful if anyone dies.