Former governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satya Pal Malik while siding with farmers protesting the Centre’s new agriculture laws has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to offend them.
Speaking at an event in his home district, Malik who is now the governor of Meghalaya 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 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. 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 ₹ 300,” Malik was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.
“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.”
