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News Desk: Rajiv Tomar, a shoe trader in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat, went on Facebook live on Tuesday and took poison, blaming PM Modi for heavy losses in business. He survived but his wife, who also consumed poison died.
In the chilling video, Rajiv Tomar, 40, tears open a sachet and swallows its contents as his wife tries to stop him. She even tries to make him spit it out before moving out of the frame. 38-year-old Poonam Tomar allegedly took poison after she failed to stop her husband from taking it.
“I think I have the freedom to speak. I will pay the debts I have. Even if I die, I will pay. But I request everyone to please share this video as much as possible. I am not an anti-national but I have faith in the country. But I want to tell Modiji, you are not a well-wisher of small traders and farmers. Change your policies” Mr Tomar says in tears.
He complained that GST had hit his business.
The two-minute video has drawn reactions from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. “Deeply saddened to learn about the suicide attempt of a businessman and his wife in Baghpat and the death of his wife. My condolences to the family members. I pray to God that Shri Rajiv ji recovers soon” she tweeted.
Speaking to reporters at the Congress manifesto release, Priyanka Gandhi said: “We are seeing this kind of distress among small traders, businesses across UP. Demonetisation, GST and the lockdown have hurt them the most”.