Opposition raises farmer's suicide issue in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: The suicide of a farmer at an AAP rally reverberated in the Lok Sabha on Thursday with opposition parties demanding an immediate discussion and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, forcing the house to be adjourned till noon.

A host of MPs from various parties had moved motion for suspension of question hour and an immediate discussion in the matter.

Congress leader in the house Mallikarjun Kharge said a farmer committed suicide in full public view due to the policies of the government and the prime minister should make a statement on the issue.

However, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan disallowed suspension of question hour and said she will allow a discussion during zero hour.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the government was ready for a discussion and even Home Minister Rajnath Singh would make a statement on the issue.

However, an unrelenting opposition started shouting slogans against the prime minister and the government demanding an immediate discussion.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who tried to continue with the question hour for some time, said: "Yesterday nobody tried to save him and today you are politicising the issue."

She was soon forced to adjourn the house till 12 p.m.