In a distressing video that has surfaced online, an Indian man is seen consuming poison while blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the heavy losses he suffered in his business due to the implementation of GST (Goods and Service Tax).
According to reports, the man, identified as Rajiv Tomar, a shoe trader from the city of Baraut in Uttar Pradesh, along with his wife, Poonam consumed poison on Tuesday, Feb. 8. The couple reportedly consumed poison after going live on Facebook.
"The wife died during treatment while the husband is critical," said Madan Singh, SHO of the Baraut Kotwali police station.
Police officers rushed to the couple’s home after those watching the terrifying scenes alerted them of the suicide attempt. The couple was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead during treatment, the Times of India reported.
In the video, Rajiv was seen crying and wailing as he opened a sachet and consumed an unknown substance. His wife can be seen trying to get the substance out of his mouth, but the man pushes her away and continues to share his plight with people who joined his Facebook live.
"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 the video as much as possible. I am not an 'anti-national' but I want to tell Modi Ji, you are not a well-wisher of small traders and farmers. If you are ashamed of yourself, change your policies," Rajiv said.
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Family members of the couple said they were aware of the duo's financial crisis but "never thought" they would take such an extreme step.
"Every shopkeeper and businessman is facing financial loss including me, but I never thought of this step and never will, I'll try to change the system by voting against it," a netizen commented under the video that was reshared on Twitter.
Another wrote: "Big business can only win if a small business is killed. Small businesses can only be killed if Government policies kill it. Government policies kill small business because big business owns the government."
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