Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat showing support to the protesting farmers, on Sunday urged the prime minister and Home Minister to not offend them and said if the Centre gives a legal guarantee of the minimum support price for crops, the farmer’s stance will be softened. Malik was speaking at an event in his home district. He also claimed that he prevented the arrest of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait when he heard rumours about it. He further said that he had requested the prime minister and the home minister 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. In a 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.
The condition of farmers is bad, Malik said, adding that 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 laws, Malik said that the point that the farmers can sell their crops at any place doesn’t work in reality. This is a 15-year-old law. Despite this, when a farmer from Mathura goes to Palwal to sell wheat, or when a farmer from Sonipat comes to Narela, to sell his produce they are lathicharged.
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"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.
Referring to Sikh farmers protesting against the laws, Malik said, "The Sikh community does not back down and forget things even after 300 years. Indira Gandhi (ex-PM) had got the ''Mahamrityunjay Mantra Jaap'' done for a month after Operation Blue Star. Arun Nehru told me that when he asked her that she does not believe in such rituals, then why is she performing these, she said you don't know, I have damaged their 'Akal Takht'. They will not spare me."