Former PM HD Deve Gowda begins hunger strike on farmers' suicide issue

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda began a hunger strike on 27 July, demanding discussions in Parliament on the issue of farmers' suicides in the country.

Flanked by party MPs, MLAs, and Samajwadi Party supporters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, the JD(S) leader said his hunger strike will continue till a discussion takes place on the issue in Parliament.

Points from Deve Gowda's speech

• Referring to Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh's reply in Parliament on the issue of farmers' suicides, Gowda said: "It is one of the worst statements made by the Agriculture Minister. It is unbecoming of the Agriculture Minister at the national level." He added that Singh's statement should be condemned.
• Gowda expressed concern over the deaths of thousands of farmers in the country. "In particular, 16 farmers are committing suicide in Karnataka every day. Even today nine farmers died," Gowda said.