Farmers’ suicide will cast a long shadow on polls

Mumbai: Farmers’ suicide makes disturbing news even in ordinary times, but in election times, it makes dismal news.  

As many as 28 farmers have committed suicide in less than a month in Maharashtra because of massive crop damage caused by hailstorm and unseasonal rains. Twenty-eight districts were affected, and an estimated 16 lakh hectares of crops destroyed. The losses could cross well over Rs 5,000 crore.  

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has promised help. “Many farmers have lost everything. We will do whatever we can to provide help and compensation,” he said.