New Delhi: Meghalaya governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday said that he would not stop supporting the farmers’ protests, and if the Central government thinks he is harming it then he can be asked to step aside.
“Even when a dog dies it is condoled but 250 farmers have died, yet no one expressed condolences,” Malik told NDTV in an interview. “If this movement continues like this then in the long term, BJP will lose out in western UP, Rajasthan and Haryana.”
The governor said he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah about the protests and told them to negotiate with the farmers. “The farmers should not be sent back empty-handed. The government should open talks with them soon,” he said.
“If the government thinks I am harming them then I will step aside. I will speak even if I am not a Governor,” Malik responded, on whether he was worried about making such remarks while serving as governor.
“I cannot bear to see the state of these farmers. BJP leaders are unable to leave their villages as people are beating MLAs. Those who want to harm the government, they are the ones who do not want a resolution. My statements will not harm the party – rather the opposite as the farmers will feel that someone is speaking up for them,” he continued.
On Sunday, Malik had spoken at a public event in his home district of Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh in support of the farmers’ protest. He said if the Centre gives a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops, farmers will relent.
The Meghalaya governor also claimed to have prevented the arrest of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait when he heard rumours about it. “None of the laws are in favour of farmers. Wherever one goes, there is a lathicharge,” Malik said, adding that no one can save the country where farmers and soldiers are not satisfied.
Describing the condition of farmers as bad in the country, 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.”
“I belong to a farmer’s family. Hence, I can understand their problems. I will go to any extent to solve the problems of farmers,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)