Maharashtra: A Shiv Sena MLA created a sensation in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by trying to commit suicide in the well of the house.
Gulabrao Gawande, an MLA from Akot, was protesting the state government's apathy towards suicides by farmers in the state.
The incident took place when the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Ramdas Kadam, demanded suspension of the Question Hour and taking up of the farmers' issue.
Gawande ran towards the well of the house and started pouring kerosene on himself. He then tried to consume poison but members of the assembly overpowered him and snatched the bottle from him.
The shocked members of the Legislative Assembly, cut across party lines and tried to pacify Gawande, who was later taken out of the House.
Thousands of farmers in Nagpur are protesting over the government's indifference towards falling cotton prices.
The prices have dropped because of failed crop, erratic power supply, high bank interest rates and cheap imports.
The government had earlier promised to pay Rs 2700 per quintal of cotton, but it pays only Rs 1800.
In fact, farmer suicides have been on the rise in various parts of the country since 1990. Agriculture is the slowest growing sector in the Indian economy right now.
BJP leader, Gopinath Munde, had earlier said, "This is beginning of the farmer's struggle against the government. If the government does not give any relief package to the people to stop them from committing suicide than we will go ahead with the struggle in a big way."
Following his statement, Gawande had tried to commit suicide in the House.
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar has suspended Gawande from the House for rest of the winter session of Maharashtra Assembly.
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