The agrarian crisis in Maharashtra has deepened further, with official data revealing that 767 farmers ended their lives between January and March 2025. The staggering figure was presented recently in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, highlighting the ongoing distress in the state’s agricultural sector — especially in the Vidarbha region, which continues to suffer from drought and severe economic hardship.
Reacting strongly to the figures, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, holding it directly responsible for the worsening condition of farmers. In a post on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Gandhi wrote:
"This is not just a number. This is the pain of 767 devastated families."
Rahul Gandhi pointed out the growing burden of debt on farmers, attributing it to rising inflation, soaring costs of fertilizers and seeds, and high diesel and electricity rates. He alleged that while farmers’ demands are consistently ignored, the government has failed to provide even the basic assurance of a Minimum Support Price (MSP).
“When these same farmers demand loan waivers, they are pushed aside,” Gandhi added, calling out what he sees as a stark double standard.
Gandhi sharpened his criticism by targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly:
“The Modi government easily waives off loans worth crores for industrialists, but turns its back on the suffering of our annadatas (food providers).”
He referenced a recent report involving Anil Ambani allegedly being linked to a Rs 48,000 crore fraud case, stating, “The government is silent. No action, no outrage.”
The Congress MP also reminded the public of Modi's pre-election promise to double farmers’ income, saying, “Today, the life of the food provider is reduced to half while the Prime Minister continues with his publicity campaigns. The system is silent — but we must speak out.”
Total Suicides: 767
Most Affected Region: Vidarbha Division
Key Causes: Drought, debt, rising input costs