Chaos ensued in the Maharashtra Legislative Council after the Opposition NCP demanded that farmers’ suicides be included in the condolence motion moved by state revenue minister Eknath Khadse. LoP Dhananjay Munde asked that condolences be paid to the farmers who had committed suicide. However, Mr Khadse refuted it and said that previous Congress-NCP government did not do it.

As the Council assembled to pay tributes to the departed leaders, leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde said that as a tribute to farmers who have committed suicide last year, the House should pay its respects to them as well.

Objecting to his demand, Mr Khadse said that most farmers had committed suicide during the tenure of the Congress and the NCP government and thus, if they were so concerned about farmers’ suicides, they should have started the practice while they were in power.

“3,228 farmers have committed suicide in the past one year and the number is only growing. They may have committed suicides for various reasons and I do not intend to blame anybody. But I ask, who should be held responsible for this ” Mr Munde said, adding, “It is only fair to them that this House pays its tributes to all those farmers who have committed suicide,” he said.

Responding to his suggestion, Mr Khadse said, “It is unfortunate that he (Munde) started speaking when I had already started speaking during the condolence motion. Nevertheless, let me make it clear that most suicides happened when you (Congress-NCP) were in power. If you were so concerned about the suicides, you should have started the practice when your government was in place.” Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar said that he had allowed Mr Munde to speak thinking he had to add something.