Declaring that he would launch an agitation over farmers' issues and the need for a Lokpal in New Delhi next February, social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday sought to know the number of industrialists who had committed suicide in the country. He claimed that 12 lakh farmers had ended their lives in the past 22 years.
"At least 12 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last 22 years. I want to know the number of industrialists who committed suicide during this period," the veteran Gandhian, who was on a three-day visit to Odisha, told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
“The governments at the Centre and the states are pro-industry and anti-farmers and they behave as if they are deaf and blind when it comes to meet the farmers' demand," he said.
"I had great hope that there would be some change after (Narendra) Modi would become prime minister. Therefore, I remained silent for all the three years," Hazare said.
But the Modi government has failed to keep its promises made to farmers before the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, he said.
"Why did you promise to give the minimum support price at the rate of one-and-half times the production cost in agriculture? Now, it is clear that the promises had been made to garner the support of farmers," Hazare said.
If farmers across the country unite, then only the people in power would be able to see and speak, the Gandhian said, calling upon farmers to raise their voice against the injustice meted out to them.
"The Centre has not fulfilled the assurance given to the people. Therefore, I have decided to raise my voice again," Hazare said. The Gandhian asked why the Modi government failed to deposit Rs 15 lakh in every citizen's bank account from the black money stashed abroad as assured before the 2014 polls.
Stating that the government had assured to implement the Lokpal Act to fight corruption, Hazare said, "They rather diluted the Act, which was passed within two days in Parliament."
He said the opinion of Gram Sabhas is not taken into consideration when policies are made in Parliament and the assemblies. "Gram Sabha is more important than the two others," he claimed.
