More than a dozen farmers, who were reeling under heavy debt committed suicide in the recent weeks after the unseasonal rains damaged their crops , with rural population blaming Modi for not stepping in to help the distressed farmers or ensuring that crop prices remain stable.
The discontent in many rural areas against the government policies is turning into anger in less than a year. The farmer suicides in politically sensitive region could foil Bharatiya Janata Party's plan to consolidate its presence in predominantly rural states over the next two years.
Meanwhile the government has been unable to keep a tab on the radical Hindu leaders whose speech often hurt religious sentiments. Of minorities.
Besides, centre has also postponed a comprehensive health plan as it lays more stress on investment over subsidies.
Though Modi government with its economic reform, in his first year, has made some progress also keeping inflation in check but it has not been as rapid as expected by some investors.
One such farmer, Babu Singh from Vaidi, 185 km (115 miles) southeast of Delhi in Uttar Pradesh set himself on fire on March 19 after rain destroyed wheat growing on the five-acre farm he leased from a landlord. He succumbed to burn injuries six days later
His brother Dharmendra Singh said, he had run up debts amounting to $13,000,
“My brother was banking on the crop so the loss came as the last straw,” Dharmendra Singh said in his village,
The unseasonal storm has damaged over 10 million hectares (24.7 million acres) of crops, but the government says there is no clear link to the suicides.
“Only the state governments can figure out cases of farmers' suicides,” said a senior federal farm ministry official, who did not wish to be identified.
“We'll work closely with the affected states if they ask for any specific help.”
“Instead of ensuring some concrete help to farmers, especially after rains this month, Modi and his government are spending time and energy on the land bill,” said Buddha Singh, a district chief of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, a leading farmers' body.
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