First major jolt to Modi govt as Meghalaya Guv backs protesting farmers

Baghpat : Siding with farmers protesting the Centre's new agriculture laws, Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik urged PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to offend them. Malik said if the Centre gives legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops, farmers will relent.

Malik also claimed that he prevented the arrest of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait when he heard rumours about it. Malik further said he had requested the PM and the HM not to use force against farmers, and not to send them home from Delhi empty-handed. "None of the laws are in favour of farmers.

The country in which farmers and soldiers are not satisfied, that country cannot move ahead. That country cannot be saved. Hence, the Army and farmers should be kept satisfied," Malik said urging PM Modi and Home Minister Shah not to offend them.

Describing the condition of farmers as bad, Malik said, "They are getting poorer day by day while the salary of government officials and staff increases after every three years. Whatever is sown by a farmer is cheap and whatever he buys is expensive."

"They do not know how they are becoming poor. The 'satyanaash' (annihilation) of the farmers is taking place without their knowledge. When they go to sow (crops), there is some price, and when they go to reap it, the price decreases by almost Rs 300," Malik said.

Taking a jibe at the arguments offered in favour of the new farm laws, Malik said, "A lot of noise was created that farmers can now sell (crops) at any place. This is a 15-year-old law. Despite this, when a farmer from Mathura goes to Palwal with wheat, there is a lathicharge on him. When a farmer from Sonipat comes to Narela, there is a lathicharge on him."

"There are many questions of farmers, which must be answered. Today, there is no law in favour of farmers. This has to be corrected. I want to assure you that in the matter of farmers, I will go to any extent to solve their problems," he said.

Apparently referring to Sikh farmers protesting against the laws, Malik said, "The Sikh community does not back down and forget things even after 300 years." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged dialogue between the protesting farmers and the Centre while addressing a meeting of BJP office bearers.

Making an appeal to farmers upset over the new agri-marketing laws, the senior BJP leader said any problem can be resolved through talks. Meanwhile, Indo-Canadian YouTube star and late-night talk show host Lilly Singh sported a "I stand with farmers" mask at the red carpet of 2021 Grammy Awards to reiterate her support to the ongoing farmers agitation in India.

The 32-year-old social media personality took to Twitter and posted a picture of herself from the 63rd edition of the Grammy Awards. Singh wrote that since there's intense media spotlight on the red carpet, this was the perfect opportunity to show her solidarity with farmers.