Political leaders made a beeline for the mortuary at the Lady Hardinge Hospital on Wednesday afternoon where the body of Gajendra Singh had been taken for post mortem. Later in the evening, the body was handed over to his family.
While hospital staff and the general public gathered around to watch the plethora of politicians arriving in their official cars most agreed that ‘this was just politics being played out after an aam aadmi’s death’.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Satish Upadhyay blamed the police for running away from responsibility and not preventing the ‘accident’. “Police should investigate this matter thoroughly. The Aam Aadmi Party leader’s Arvind Kejriwal continued with his speech even when the death occurred. Is politics more important than the life of a person? Shouldn’t they take moral responsibility for this incident? Where were the party’s volunteers when this incident happened and why didn’t the Delhi CM stop his speech and instruct that this farmer be saved. Who will take responsibility for this incident?’’
“The farmer was brought dead,” said a senior official at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. His body was later transferred to Lady Hardinge Hospital.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said: “We have asked the hospital authorities to ensure that the post mortem be done at the earliest. An enquiry has been initiated into the incident. We have also spoken to the Rajasthan Government to ensure that the body is handed over to the family without any hitch. Police action is also being looked into.’’
The Minister refused to respond to any queries about a possible AAP’s lapse or the statement issued by Congress leaders.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi noted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government is punishing the farmers, while adding that his party was always with them.
“The Modi Government helps their crony corporates. In Parliament, they said suicides aren’t taking place. I want to tell the farmers and labourers not to worry; the Congress party is with them. We will help them,” he said at Lady Hardinge Hospital.
Senior police officers said the AAP workers tried to stop the car which was being used to take Singh to the hospital. “Some of the AAP volunteers insisted that they took Singh to the hospital and even tried to stop our van. When our officers refused to give in to their demand, they climbed on the police jeep,” a senior police officer said requesting anonymity.
Congress leaders are demanding a case be registered against AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for abetment of suicide.
“We will protest outside the residence of the Chief Minister on Thursday,” Delhi Youth Congress leader Amit Malik said.
The first one to reach the hospital was Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken. He, however, refused to say much except that he was ‘saddened’ by the turn of events.
