FATEHGARH SAHIB: A 62-year-old distraught farmer, who had met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on his tour of Punjab on April 28 this year, killed himself by consuming Celphos tablets -- an aluminum phosphate-based pesticide commonly used for preserving wheat -- early on Wednesday.

Surjit Singh, a marginal farmer of Dadu Majra of Fatehgarh Sahib district, had sought relief when he had met Rahul as he was reeling under a Rs 9 lakh debt after untimely rain ruined his wheat crop over six-acre land in March-April this year.

Several Congress officials, including Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljit Nagra and Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa, rushed to attend Surjit’s funeral and criticized the Punjab government for offering inadequate help to farmers.

Sympathizing with the family of the farmer, the Akali Dal, however, lashed out at the Congress for “politicising the tragic death”.

“The incident is unfortunate. Let his autopsy report reach us, we will take the necessary steps as per the compensation policy,” said SAD spokesman Daljit Cheema

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Surjit’s family members, who found him dead at 7am, said he was tense about repaying the loan after state procurement agencies refused to lift more than 85 quintal of wheat. His 12-year-old grandson Harmanjot lit his pyre even as his three married daughters, Jasvir Kaur, Karamjit Kaur, Daljit Kaur, and Surjit’s son wept inconsolably.

“He had tried to kill himself last year after damage to our paddy. This time, after the crop loss, he collected farmers and tried his best to raise the issue with all political parties, but nothing happened,” said his 34-year-old son Kulwinder Singh, who was too disconsolate to light his father’s pyre.

Surjit had shown Rahul the heaps of wheat at Sirhind grain market on April 28, 14 days after the harvest had begun on Baisakhi.

“He had met Rahul. The CM never promised action. More than 600 suicides have taken place in last five years. These are mentioned in panchayat affidavits, but the government has hidden all data to keep their political fortunes intact. The CM is busy with photo-opportunities in Pune,” said Bajwa, while announcing Rs 2 lakh for the family on behalf of the party.

At least 24 suicides have taken place in Punjab's Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Bathinda and Mansa districts in the past four

