Just in: A farmer from Punjab who met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi committed suicide today after he was unable to pay off his debt.   Surjit Singh Dadu, who hailed from Majjra village, had told Rahul Gandhi, who visited Mandi on April 30, that the condition of farmers in the state was very bad.

"Nobody is procuring the produce and I have a debt of Rs 13.5 lakh. No money has been paid by any agency during the past 28 days," the farmer had told the Congress Vice President.

The interaction with the farmers and labourers took place along the wheat stacks kept at the Mandi.

The Congress has been alleging that the Punjab government is not purchasing the produce of farmers adequately.

Gandhi had recently attacked the government, alleging that it was "ignoring" the farming community and favouring the industrialists and rich people.

He has also accused the government of giving out contradictory figures about the damages suffered by farmers during the recent unseasonal rains.


Union Minister and Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur dubbed Gandhi's visit to the mandi as a "drama".


Fresh fodder for the BJP.