Meghalaya Governor speaks up for Farmers
At a time when Governor’s like to tow the political line of the Union Government and prefer to be on the good books of the Prime Minister, Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik has openly extended his support to the ongoing farmers' agitation against the three farm bills.
Malik did not stop at that, he urged Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to offend the protesters.
Malik made these statements at a function in his home town, Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
Malik went on to say that the protesting farmers should not be sent home empty handed and added that the Prime Minister as well as the Home Minister should ensure this.
He also claimed that he will help end the farmers' protest going on at the borders of Delhi, if the Centre gives a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
"Give farmers legal guarantee on MSP and I will take responsibility to end the dispute between the farmers and the government," he said.
The Meghalaya Governor said that he had requested the prime minister and the home minister not to use force against the protesting farmers.
"Don't insult and send the farmers back empty-handed from Delhi. The Sikh community does not back out and does not forget things even after 300 years. None of the laws are in favour of farmers. The country in which farmers and soldiers are not satisfied, cannot progress. That country cannot be saved. Hence, the Army and farmers should be kept satisfied,” Satya Pal Malik said in an oblique appeal to Modi.
Apparently referring to Sikh farmers protesting against the laws, Malik said, “Indira Gandhi had got the 'Mahamrityunjay Mantra Jaap' done for a month after the Operation Blue Star. Arun Nehru told me that when he asked her that you do not believe is such rituals, then why are you performing these, she said you don't know, I have damaged their 'Akal Takht'. They will not spare me."
Describing the condition of farmers as bad, the Meghalaya Governor 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," Governor Malik said.
The Meghalaya Governor also claimed that he prevented the arrest of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait when he heard that Tikait was to be arrested.