Farmers Movement Archive

Satya Pal Malik backs farmers, says not scared to step down as governor

JAIPUR: Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday attacked the Centre over the farmers’ issue and said he was not scared of stepping down from his post if asked. He made the comment while addressing the ‘Jat Global Summit’ here. Referring to his recent statements on farm laws, Malik said he was made the governor by a couple of people in Delhi and was fully aware that he was speaking against their will on farm issues. “The day they tell me that they have a problem (with my statements), I will not even wait for a minute to resign. On the very first day, I spoke for the farmers and was prepared to leave and to join the farm protest,” said Malik. Raising the silence of the central government on the deaths of farmers at the protest site, Malik said over 600 people have died in the country’s biggest farm movement but not a word of condolence from the top leaders was unfortunate. “Even when a puppy dies, leaders in Delhi express their condolences. But they are silent on the death of farmers,” said Malik. Making a startling claim, he recalled that during his meeting with PM Narendra Modi, he told him that neither Sikhs not Jats can be defeated over the farmers’ movement. “I told Modi that if you think that farmers will withdraw the protest without getting anything, that is not going to happen. I also told him that don’t do two things: Don’t use force and don’t send them without giving anything,” said Malik. “It is unfortunate that nobody is speaking about farmer deaths. Even those who belong to our category (OBC) have not initiated any proposal condemning the deaths in Lok Sabha,” said Malik. Defending farmers’ right to peaceful protest, he said farmers had not reacted and so far they had not even thrown a pebble. Mincing no words, he justified the hoisting of the national flag at Red Fort by farmers on January 26. He said, “Modi has the first right to hoist the national flag followed by farmers. Red Fort is part of collective memory and emotion. Our folk songs talk about taking over of Red Fort. Don’t our people have the right to hoist our flag at the Red Fort? Raising the Kargil issue, he said it was the failure of the government that intruders cross over in the country and the price was paid by sons of farmers. “Nowhere in history, a war took place in which our children took over the army sitting on the top of the hill and they died like birds,” said Malik. Watch Satya Pal Malik backs farmers; says not scared to step down as Governor

The Times of India

2021-11-08

Jaipur