Even as farmers from Punjab and Haryana continue their protest at the border points of Delhi, demanding repeal of the new farm laws, a Karnataka minister on Thursday courted controversy after he said that the farmers who commit suicide are cowards.
"The farmers who commit suicide are cowards. Only a coward who can't take care of his wife and children commits suicide. When we have fallen (in the water), we have to swim and win," Agriculture Minister B.C. Patil said.
Addressing farmers at Ponnampet in Kodagu district, Patil said some cowards do not realise how profitable the agriculture business is and they commit suicide.
The minister cited the example of a woman who he met.
"When I enquired with her how her hands were full of gold bangles, you know what she said? She said, 'This mother earth has given me for my 35 years of toil',” he said.
When a woman who had depended herself entirely on agriculture and achieved big why other farmers cannot do it, Patil asked.
Congress party condemned Patil's comment and demanded an apology from him for 'disrespecting' the farmers.
"No farmer wishes to end life. There are many reasons such as floods and droughts, which have not been understood and solved yet. Instead of understanding the gravity of the problem, the Minister gives such an irresponsible statement," said Congress Karnataka unit spokesperson V.S. Ugrappa.
