Farmer gulps poison before minister for power connection

Buldhana: Upset over being denied an agricultural power connection in his fields since 1980, a farmer recently attempted to commit suicide by consuming poison in the presence of the Maharashtra Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Speaking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, the farmer, Ishwar Kharate, who tried to take his own life on Saturday, said that he had warned the district administration of his plans to commit suicide since he has not been given a power connection for nearly four decades. Kharate said his grandfather had made the application to the concerned local authorities, but alleged that nothing had moved in the matter, compelling him to resort to extreme measures.