Meghalaya governor targets government yet again over implementation of MSP

Continuing his attack on the BJP-led government on the issue of implementation and legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers' produce, Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday said that the farmers of the country cannot be defeated and they will continue to protest till their demands are fulfilled.

Malik who was speaking at an event at a cowshed in Kira village of Nuh also warned that there will be a fierce battle this time if MSP is not implemented and a legal guarantee is not given on MSP.

"You cannot defeat the farmer of this country. You can't scare him… Since you can't send ED or Income Tax Officer, how will you scare the farmer?

His statement comes at a time when farmers from across the states arrived at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Monday morning, following a call by some farm unions to protest in support of their demands which include a legal guarantee for MSP, sacking of MoS Ajay Teni in view of his son's connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and more.

He also alleged that the MSP is not being implemented because the prime minister has a friend named Adani, who has now become the richest person in Asia in five years.

"At Guwahati airport, I met a woman holding a bouquet. When I asked her where she was, she replied, 'We have come from Adani's side. I asked what does it mean. He said that this airport has been handed over to Adani…Adani has been given airports, ports, and major plans…and is ready to sell the country in a way. [and in a way, the preparation is to sell the country]But we will not let that happen," Malik was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

He also alleged that Adani has built a big godown in Panipat and has stocked it with wheat purchased at cheap prices. He said, 'When there is inflation, he will sell that wheat… then these PM's friends will make profits and farmers will suffer. This will not be tolerated and a fight will be fought against it."

On Sunday, reiterating that he met the Prime Minister, Malik said, "I saw farmers sitting on the borders of Delhi… I told the PM that each of them was the head of 40 villages… 700 Farmers are killed. When a dog dies, a condolence message is sent from Delhi. No condolence message has been sent for the farmers…"

"I told him it's been a year since he's been sitting, give him some and sort it out. He told me that he would go and why was I worried. He took it very lightly. I told him you don't know him… Later, he understood and the laws were repealed and he also apologized.

This is not the first time that Malik has criticized the government for protesting farmers. On January 3 this year, speaking at a function in Haryana's Dadri, he alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was arrogant when he met farmers to discuss their protest.