Confronted by deceased farmer's daughter, Ashutosh breaks down on national TV

AAP leader Ashutosh. Pic/AFP

New Delhi: AAP leader Ashutosh on Wednesday broke down on national television when deceased farmer Gajendra Singh's daughter posed questions to him about her father's death at a rally which the party had organised.

Megha, a 17-year-old Class XII student, asked why had the AAP leaders continued with their speeches even as her father hanged himself at the rally at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.

AAP leader Ashutosh. Pic/AFP

"I am a sinner. I was present on the stage and still could not save him. We have not slept in the night. There is a lot of pain. "The politics that is happening over the issue is sad. The people of the country should understand they will get nothingfrom this type of politics," Ashutosh said, breaking down profusely during a panel discussion on a TV news channel.

Incidentally, Kejriwal today apologised for not calling off the rally immediately as the tragedy unfolded and admitted that his making a speech had been a 'mistake'.

The AAP supremo also slammed the media and the opposition parties, saying that the debate had veered away from the 'real issue' of farmers' plight.

Ashutosh accused BJP of trying to politicise the issue and dragging Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's name into the controversy. "BJP and Congress are politicising the issue. They are dragging Sisodia's name into this. Fingers are being pointed at (AAP leader) Kumar Vishwas.

We are humans. We are not here to do politics (over the issue). Rajnath Singh ji should understand. We are being accused of instigating him (Gajendra Singh). This is wrong," Ashutosh said.

Megha said during the TV discussion that she does not believe her father committed suicide. "My father did not commit suicide and I am not ready to believe that my father took his own life. There was no monetary problem, but yes, there was pain over the loss of crops," she said.