In a tragic real life synonymity to the film Peepli Live, a 40-year-old debt-ridden farmer in Jalna district of Marathwada ‘invited’ people in his village for his ‘last rites’, and hanged himself to death, the very next day.
The villagers and Sheshrao Shejul’s family realised that he was not joking when they found his body hanging from a neem tree.
“Sheshrao told me and several others in the village that he would be leaving us and invited all villagers for last rites, but nobody took him seriously,” a villager said.
His Crops Failed
Sheshrao owned two acres of land and the soyabean crop he sowed failed due to the acute drought in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region.
According to PTI, the farmer was also worried about how to arrange for his daughter’s marriage.
The farmer’s suicide has prompted Shiv Sena, BJP’s ruling ally in the state, to take a dig at the Devendra Fadnavis government.
Sena Questions Government
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has planned to capitalise on the ‘Make in India Week’ next month to consolidate FDI gains for Maharashtra.
“Did Sheshrao’s invitation reach Mantralaya ? If such incidents continue in the state, should we term it Make in Maharashtra,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said today.
“Should the suicide of Sheshrao and suicides by thousands of farmers like him be called a product of Make in Maharashtra,” the Sena said.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)