Six more threaten suicide in Uttarakhand following death during BJP’s ‘janta durbar’

The suicide by a Haldwani-based transporter, Parkash Pandey, this week, who had consumed poison at a ‘Janta Darbar’ organized at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters on January 6, has added to the woes of an embarrassed state government.

Following the public uproar over the suicide by Pandey, six more people have threatened suicide by calling the Chief Minister’s office in Dehradun.

Already, Sanjay Bisht, a Ramnagar-based transporter, was on his way to CM’s residence when he was arrested by police in Dehradun. Later, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has confirmed that six more persons from across the state had threatened suicide. The reasons range from vying for government jobs to getting small jobs done.

The issue of compensation to the family of deceased Prakash Pandey has also hugely embarrassed the state government. The family member of the deceased refused to create the deceased unless the state government gives job to his widowed wife and adequate compensation. The District Magistrate at haldwani reportedly announced that a sum of Rs. Ten lakhs would be paid to the family and his wife will get a government job. But after the cremation of Parkash pandey, the state government went back on its word. It was stated that since Parkash Pandey committed suicide which was an offence, his family will not get anything. However, the District Magistrate will arrange rs. Two lakh from various citizen bodies.

Parkash Pandey, who was under financial strains due to demonetization and imposition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had blamed the policies of the BJP government for his plight. He said that he had written to the Prime Minister’s Office, but was asked to contact the state government for financial help.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Congress, led by its President Pritam Singh, held a candlelight march from Congress’ office to Gandhi Park to protest the death of Parkash Pandey.

“The death of Parkash Pandey was unfortunate but some people are trying to gain political mileage out of the tragedy. This is a serious issue as six more persons have threatened suicide to pressure the government,” Singh said.

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat, addressing mediapersons, blamed the central as well as the state BJP governments for the economic plight of the common people and businessmen.

“The suicide by Parkash Pandey was a grim reminder of the ground realities and the problems faced by common people due to faulty economic policies of the Narendra Modi-led government. The insensitivity of the state BJP government in trying to pass on the suicide as a political conspiracy was bizarre,” he said.