Protesters gather around a farmer who hung himself from a tree (Reuters photo)
Gajendra Singh Rajput, a farmer from Rajasthan climbed a tree at a Jantar Mantar rally of the Aam Aadmi Party today, a broom, the party's symbol, in one hand. He was seen shouting something, his words drowned out by sloganeering and speeches below.
He was on the tree for about 20-25 minutes, witnesses said, and then suddenly the farmer threw what turned out to be a suicide note to the ground and hanged himself with his white shawl.
It was broad daylight when Gajendra Singh killed himself in public, about a kilometre away from Parliament, which is in session. There were several layers of policemen deployed. But an AAP volunteer, who said he climbed the tree after the farmer to try and save him, alleged that no policeman stepped forward to help.
"By the time I reached him, it was too late. But I supported him hoping that we could do something and with my other hand I signalled to the policeman below for help. They did nothing just stood around and laughed," he told NDTV.
"Yes, they laughed," he asserted when asked again if that is what he really saw. Other AAP volunteers too claimed that the police, tasked with security and law and order at the rally, did not attempt to save the farmer.
The tree was just 40 steps away from the stage where Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were seated at the protest against the Centre's land bill. Before the farmer hanged himself, AAP leader Sanjay Singh spoke from the stage requesting the police to stop the man.
After he was taken away to hospital, Mr Kejriwal told the crowd, "I feel sad that before our eyes he climbed the tree. I kept telling the police to save him. The police are not in our control, but at least they are under god's control." He has been criticised for going ahead with his speech even after the tragic incident.
Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena who was present at Jantar Mantar would only say, "We have to conduct an inquiry. I can only comment after an inquiry."
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked the Delhi police to give a report on the sequence of events and police preparedness at today's rally.