Rajasthan farmer allegedly commits suicide, blames Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot

A 45-year-old debt-ridden farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming celphos in Raisinghnagar of Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district, leaving behind a note apparently written by him in which he accuses Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of not fulfilling its pre-poll promise of waiving bank loans, the police said on Tuesday.

The farmer, identified as Sohan Lal, had taken a crop loan of Rs 2.5 lakh. He took celphos, a pesticide, on Sunday. The body was handed over to family members after a post-mortem on Monday, Raisinghnagar police station in-charge Kishan Singh said.He said Sohan Lal's neighbour gave them a suicide note that he claimed to have found at the farmer's residence.

In the suicide note, Lal has held the state government responsible for not waiving loans of farmers as promised in their election manifesto.The farmer had also shot a video on his mobile phone and uploaded it on social media. He was soon taken to a nearby government hospital from where he was referred to Sriganganagar. He died while being taken to the other hospital.

In the alleged note, Lal wrote: "I am going to end my life today. Nobody is at fault in this. (Ashok) Gehlot and (Deputy Chief Minister) Sachin Pilot are responsible for my death. They had made a statement that they will waive off our loans within 10 days... What has happened to their promise? It is time to bow down the government today."

"I am committing suicide on behalf of all farmer brothers," the note said urging people to look after the members of his family.Kishan Singh said the claims in the suicide note were being verified and the handwriting would be matched with that of the farmer to establish its authenticity. 

(With PTI inputs)