File photo: BJP MP Sanjay Dhotre
Sanjay Dhotre, BJP's Member of Parliament from Maharashtra's Akola, has claimed that his alleged callous comments on farmer suicides were "taken out of context".
On Saturday, while speaking at a conclave organised by an agricultural college in his constituency, Mr Dhotre had reportedly said, "The debate on organic and Genetically Modified crop has been going on for decades, still few really know about it. If this is the situation of slightly privileged farmers, imagine the plight of poorer ones. I feel the policies are the biggest culprit; there have been times when I have spoken in despair. But let the farmers die if they must, those who wish to continue farming will do so anyway."
After the comments triggered outrage, the lawmaker claimed that the statement had been shown "out of context" by television channels.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Dhotre said, "What I meant was that the schemes that are proposed by us are not making the condition of farmers better, but making them worse. And I said that we should do nothing and if we leave the farmers on their own, they will be happy. And in anger I said that if they are dying, then let them die. I did not mean it in an offensive manner but if some people find it offensive, then it's their negative thinking. The people who heard the whole speech did not have any problem with it, be it the journalists or the farmers."
Mr Dhotre's comments were seen as a major embarrassment for his party, as they came amid reports that 12 farmers from the state's Vidarbha region had committed suicide within 72 hours.