This Article is From Apr 24, 2015

Arvind Kejriwal Accepts Rally 'Mistake', Farmer's Family Wants CBI Inquiry

Arvind Kejriwal Accepts Rally 'Mistake', Farmer's Family Wants CBI Inquiry

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today that he regrets continuing his speech at a rally after a farmer climbed up a tree and was found hanging. In Rajasthan, the family of the farmer, Gajendra Singh, said it rejects Mr Kejriwal's apology and wants the CBI to investigate the 41-year-old's death.

Mr Kejriwal and other top leaders from his party who were at the rally on Wednesday have said they were led to believe that the farmer was alive and that as soon as they realised they were wrong, they aborted the public meeting, with the Chief Minister rushing to the hospital where the farmer was taken.

"I was to deliver an hour-long speech but I wrapped it up in 10-15 min. I think that was my mistake. Probably I should not have spoken after he was seen on the tree. If that has hurt anynone's sentiments I would like to apologise," said Mr Kejriwal today.

Representatives from his Aam Aadmi Party led by Sanjay Singh visited Gajendra Singh's home in Dausa in Rajasthan today. "What will happen after this apology? My brother has died. Kejriwal did not stop the rally for even two minutes after the incident," the farmer's sister, Rekha, told reporters.

"We have doubts about this incident and demand a CBI inquiry," said Gajendra's uncle, Gopal Singh, the village sarpanch or headman.

Relatives say that a suicide note produced by the Delhi Police after Gajendra Singh flung it to the ground is forged because it is not in his handwriting. "He might have been provoked (to hang himself)... some conspiracy may be behind this," said the farmer's sister.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had yesterday said AAP supporters "clapped and raised slogans" as the farmer perched high on a tree with a towel worn as a  noose.

The Delhi Police' in its FIR also alleges that AAP supporters "instigated" the farmer into commit suicide, and thwarted attempts to rush assistance to him.
.