Mumbai: Shiv Sena’s Buldhana legislator Sanjay Gaikwad has landed in fresh trouble after suggesting that people should stay away from the funerals of farmers who take their own lives, arguing that such a response would make others understand the consequences.
The remark has triggered widespread anger, and the party leadership is now reportedly weighing his suspension even after he expressed regret.
Gaikwad, who has repeatedly drawn criticism for inflammatory remarks and altercations, spoke to reporters in Buldhana on Friday and said his comments had been taken out of context. He insisted that he had not made any statement targeting farmers, adding that he had spent four decades in public life and was himself a farmer.
“I have not said anything about farmer suicides,” he said. “I have been in politics for 40 years and am also a farmer. I am sensitive towards farmers and I have always helped them and the kin of those who died by suicide. I have funded the household expenses of people who were in dire straits and I have constructed houses for farmers. I meant that farmers should consider what will happen to their family after them. Still, if they felt bad, I apologise.”
Remarks Trigger Outrage
The controversy began after Gaikwad addressed a press conference in Buldhana on Thursday, where he questioned why farmers were ending their lives instead of seeking help from the administration or elected representatives, as reported by Hindustan Times.
“Why are you committing suicide? If you have a problem, write to the government or MLA or MP. They can help. Such farmers leave their children and wives at the mercy of others. If they end their lives like this, then people must not go for the last rites. Let animals eat their bodies. If they realise the consequences, they will not kill themselves,” he had said.
The comments circulated widely online and drew sharp condemnation across Maharashtra, particularly at a time when the state continues to grapple with agrarian distress.
Asked about reports that Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde had warned him and that the leadership was considering disciplinary action, Gaikwad declined to respond.
Controversies Galore
This is not the first time the Buldhana legislator has found himself at the centre of a controversy.
Only six months ago, Prakash Ambi, publisher of Govind Pansare’s 1988 book Kon Hota Shivaji (Who Was Shivaji?), filed a police complaint accusing Gaikwad of threatening to assault him and pull out his tongue for referring to Shivaji without an honorific.
In July 2025, Gaikwad punched an employee at the Akashwani MLA hostel canteen after complaining about the quality of food served to him. Earlier, in March 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) released footage showing him beating a young man with a police lathi.
His record of provocative statements extends further. In September 2024, he claimed to have hunted a tiger, an act that would constitute an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act. The same month, he announced a reward of ₹11 lakh for anyone willing to slit Rahul Gandhi’s throat. In 2021, while part of the MVA government, he said the Covid virus should be forced down Devendra Fadnavis’ throat.
Despite repeated warnings from Shinde, Gaikwad has so far faced no formal disciplinary action from Shiv Sena. The latest episode, however, has put pressure on the leadership to move beyond caution and consider suspension.