Haryana Agriculture Minister indicates 'farmers died with their own will' remark misinterpreted

While responding to a media query on over 200 farmers' deaths during the ongoing agitation against the new farm laws, Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal on February 13 said that they would have died even if they had stayed back home.

"Would not they have died if they were at home?

Out of 1-2 lakh people, don't 200 people die in 6 months?

They have died with their own will.

I express my sympathies towards them," Agriculture Minister Dalal.

Giving clarification later, Minister Dalal sought an apology and said my statement has been misinterpreted.

"If anyone is hurt by my statements, then, I apologise.

My statement has been misinterpreted.

I am committed to the welfare of farmers," added Dalal.