NEW DELHI, April 7: Governor Satya Pal Malik resumed his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi again and questioned his “silence” on the death of 700 farmers during the famous farmers agitation in New Delhi.
Launching a scathing attack on Modi after a brief lull, Malik questioned his silence on the “death of over 700 farmers during the protest against three contentious farm laws”.
“The Prime Minister writes a condolence note even if there is a slight accident in Delhi, however, over 700 farmers sacrificed their lives, but he did not express his condolence,” he taunted.
The Meghalaya Governor was addressing a Samaj Jagrati Shatabdi Mahotsav programme organised by Jaat Samaj on Tuesday in Sardarshahar town of Churu district in Rajasthan. He also urged the farmers to come together and form their own Government.
“Farmers should come out as givers and not takers. They should unite and form their own government,” Malik said. He alleged that when he tried to apprise the Prime Minister of farmers’ challenges, people advised him to stay silent, saying that he will never be promoted to the post of president or vice president. “I told them that I have worked in senior positions and now want to serve farmers,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Governor Malik, speaking at a function here on Thursday, said the farmers’ struggle was not yet over as the issue of ensuring minimum support price was still to be resolved.
Malik said after retirement from the gubernatorial post he planned to work for the farmers and create awareness about the need for minimum support price across the country.
Malik and former Research and Analysis Wing Director AS Dulat were honoured with the Sant Namdeo National Award by Pune-based non-government organisation, Sarhad.
The awards were given away by former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah at a function here.
Malik said he was pained when not a tear was shed for the 700 farmers who died during the year-long agitation against the farm laws on the borders of the national capital.
“I spoke out regardless of the consequences. It does not matter to me… I have to stand by the truth,” he said.
Malik said he had told a “big man” that he had entered into a confrontation with the wrong persons. “A Sikh guru did not compromise even after his four sons were martyred. These people do not forget for 300 years. I told him it would be better if the agitation ended,” he said.
“The prime minister was large-hearted to take the farm laws back… but the real issue is MSP… there is no solution for it yet … Our problems will not end till a solution for the MSP issue is found,” Malik said. (With inputs from PTI)
