India
Shiv Sena MLA Apologizes After Controversial Comments on Farmers’ Suicides
Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad issued a statement on Friday expressing regret over remarks he made a few days earlier in which he urged people not to attend the funerals of farmers who die by suicide. He clarified that his comments were not directed at farmers and that he comes from a farmer’s family. "My statement was about those who take drugs, ruin their households, and commit suicide… It was misinterpreted and created a controversy. Still, if farmers across Maharashtra and my senior leaders have been hurt, I humbly express my regret," Gaikwad said. The remarks have drawn criticism from Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who reportedly is upset and has suggested Gaikwad be suspended from the party. When asked about Shinde’s decision, Gaikwad said, "No comments." Earlier on Tuesday, Gaikwad had said that people should not attend the funerals of farmers who die by suicide, arguing that if no one attends and animals feed on the deceased, it might deter others from taking that step. He added that farmers should write to the government, their MLA or MP if they have problems, and that suicide leaves children helpless. He has previously stated that no one should attend a funeral of someone who died by suicide, claiming that the realization that bodies may be eaten by animals would discourage suicide. This is not the first controversy involving Gaikwad; in 2024 he claimed to have hunted a tiger in 1987, and last year he slapped a canteen staff member at the MLA hostel in Mumbai for offering stale food. The article was reported by Rohitashwa Ranjan of The Times of India.