In what caused acute embarrassment to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, governor M.K. Narayanan on Monday termed incidents of farmer suicides unfortunate. “Farmer suicides are unfortunately taking place and we need to find the ways and means so that it does not happen. I suppose they were deeply in debt,” Mr Narayanan said.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a programme on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 116th birthday at the Netaji Bhavan. As far as the farmers’ suicides are concerned, both Opposition CPI(M) and ally Congress have been criticising the state government, but the chief minister has been in a denial mode. The governor’s statement, therefore, flew in the face of Ms Banerjee’s denial.
Mr Narayanan also made it clear that addressing the farmer suicides issue was the responsibility of both the state government and the Centre. “This is an issue that is engaging the attention of the Central and the state governments. You have to ask Jairam Ramesh what can be done about it because he is in charge of rural programme,” he said referring to the Union rural development minister, who was also present at the programme.
His statement did not go down well with the chief minister. Only a few hours later, she virtually rejected his contention. Speaking at another programme on Monday evening at Kakurgachi, the chief minister repeated her claim that misleading facts were being spread over the farmers’ suicide issue. “Those who have died were not farmers. During our tenure, only one farmer has committed suicide. Now the tendency is to declare everyone who commits suicide as a farmer to malign us,” she added.
Ms Banerjee didn’t name anyone but it was clear her target was not only her detractors but also the governor.