I made mistake. I should have called off the rally: Kejriwal on farmer’s suicide at AAP rally

“I honestly believe that even the AAP volunteers didn't think that he would jump”

GN Staff | April 24, 2015


#AAP   #Arvind Kejriwal   #Gajendra Singh   #suicide   #farmer  

“I made a mistake. I should have called off the rally," said Arvind Kejriwal on Friday.

Speaking to media the Delhi chief minister and AAP leader said "I admit it was my mistake I shouldn't have spoken but I said I didn't feel like talking during my speech."

As conflicting versions and legal issues crop up over farmer Gajndra Singh's suicide at Aaam Aadmi Party inDelhi on Wednesday, Kejriwal said "I think I was wrong to speak on the stage when we heard of farmer's suicide attempt."

"I apologise if someone's sentiments have been hurt," he said.

"I am saying I am guilty, can we now start talking about the farmers?" Kejriwal countered when pressed on the matter.

"When we were on stage, because of the bushes surrounding the tree, what was going on wasn't clearly visible. Some AAP volunteers came to us and said that something was wrong.”

"We couldn't announce that there was something wrong because then, the people would run to the tree. It would have caused great chaos," Kejriwal said.

"I honestly believe that even the AAP volunteers didn't think that he (Gajendra Singh) would jump," said Kejriwal.

He said the person responsible for Gajendra Singh's death should be hanged.

Cong and BJP react

Meanwhile, Congress leader Shobha Oza said that the incident could have been avoided if Kejirwal had been sensitive enough. "If the CM was sensitive enough, I am confident that farmer could have been saved," she said.

On the other hand, BJP lashed out at the Delhi CM and said that his politics was based on 'allegations, accuses and blame games'.

"It is ironical that Arvind Kejriwal is apologising. His politics is based on allegations, accuses and blame games," said BJP's Nalin Kohli.

Another BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao said, "I hope AAP leaders will realise the manner in which they politicised the issue...I think today, after having seen the public outcry and media reaction over the issue, Kejriwal sounded reasonable."

"I think the Delhi government will now stop getting into confrontation with the Delhi police," Rao added.

Comment should be much more responsible

Congress leader Sheila Dikshit said she did not want to comment on what Kejriwal had said but added that he shouldn't politicise the issue of Gajendra Singh's suicide.

On the issue of AAP workers allegedly instigating the farmer to commit suicide, Sheila Dikshit said, "If what you're saying is true, it is not right for a ruling party. You (Kejriwal) are running a government. At first, you used to keep holding dharnas. But politicising someone's death like this is not right."

"As a chief minister, his statement should be much more responsible and should meet with the challenges that come up due to a tragedy like this," said Dikshit.

 

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