Hyderabad, May 26 (IANS) Appealing to farmers not to commit suicide, people from all walks of life came together at a huge rally here Wednesday in a gesture of solidarity with the debt-ridden tillers.

The crisis has been escalating with more than 60 debt-ridden farmers committing suicide in the last 15 days despite a series of steps announced by the new government to extend financial assistance to them.

Six farmers committed suicide on Tuesday, taking to 62 the toll since the new government took over on May 14.

Participants at the rally, led by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, urged them to be patient and not to resort to the extreme step as this would not only harm the state but also plunge their own families into deep crisis.

The participants included film and television artistes, sportspersons, journalists, poets, freedom fighters, NGOs and schoolchildren who walked the two km distance from the Ambedkar statue near the secretariat to the state assembly building holding placards and banners.

The chief minister, who is popularly known as YSR, assured the farming community that the government would stand by them and extend every possible help to bring them out of distress.

Launching the rally, he said his government had taken several measures to help farmers right from the day he was sworn in.

"We have implemented our poll promise of free electricity to farmers and have also waived all electricity dues amounting to Rs.12 billion," he said.

"I am not saying that this is going to be enough. We will implement all pending irrigation projects to bring an additional 6.5 million acres of land under irrigation," he added.

YSR made an emotional appeal to farmers not to lose heart and approach the help lines opened by the government all over the state to extend financial assistance.

"Suicide is not a solution. I am requesting you with folded hands not to take your lives. Every one of you is important for this state and the country. It is my government's responsibility to wipe your tears and we will do it," he said.

Added former Indian hockey star and Olympian Mukesh Kumar: "We want to convey to our farmer brothers and sisters that we are all with them in this hour of crisis. We are here to appeal to them not to commit suicide and approach the government, which is taking several steps to help them."

"We are with farmers and all artists have gathered to express solidarity with the farming community," said Telugu film actor Dharma Rao Subrahmanyam.

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