Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 18: The Meghalaya governor Satyapal Malik, who lately had been taking hits at the Narendra Modi government over the farmers’ agitation, on Thursday cautioned the BJP of facing consequences in the coming electoral battles if it ignored the current farmers’ agitation.
“The government should listen to the farmers, they should understand that farmers won’t return empty-handed,” Malik said. He pointed out that the BJP Had suffered heavy losses in Uttar Pradesh and other states because of the farmers’ protests and might face problems if the farmers’ issues were not resolved amicably.
Malik, who was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Goa before was shifted to Meghalaya by the Modi government, said he would keep speaking up for the farmers no matter what the consequences were. He regretted that there had not been one word of condolence from the government even as hundreds of farmers have died on the borders of Delhi during the protest against farm laws.
The Governor had recently attacked the Centre and the BJP over the farmers’ issue and the Central Vista project. Referring to critics who say that he was speaking against the Modi government even when they appointed him to the post of Governor, he says “nobody’s father has made me Governor.” He says that the Prime Minister has appointed him Governor and he’ll immediately resign if Modi asked him to. He stressed that he would keep raising his voice for farmers and said “I am from a farmer’s family. I have no greed for the Governor’s post. When I first became Governor, I deliberately said I won’t continue in the post for long,” he said, hinting that the Constitutional post wouldn’t stop him from commenting on politics or criticising the government.
Malik said the BJP would suffer huge losses in UP elections, and even possibly in the Lok Sabha because of the farmers’ agitation. On the Lakhimpur Kheri violence where four farmers were killed, he says the Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni should tender his resignation voluntarily as his son was in prison for being involved in the violence. “The party’s prospect will be hurt after the Lakhimpur incident. BJP lost the Rajasthan by-elections because of it,” he said.
The Governor said he hoped that the Prime Minister would listen to farmers, and he’ll keep speaking up for them. “Chaudhary Charan Singh had said we shouldn’t stop speaking up for our own people,” he concluded.
A few days ago, Malik had said the leaders in Delhi send condolence messages even when a dog dies, however, they are not bothered about the death of farmers.
“Till date, such a big movement has never happened. 600 people have been martyred in the farmers’ movement so far. When an animal dies, there comes a condolence message from the leaders of Delhi. 600 of our farmers were martyred, but no message came from Delhi,” Malik said in a no holds barred attack.
“Leaders in Delhi had sent condolence message for five-seven people who died in a fire in the hospital in Maharashtra,” he went on to add.
Told about the possibility of his losing the gubernatorial post if he kept attacking the ruling party at the centre, Malik said, “The day they tell me that they have a problem and ask me to quit, I will not take a minute. I am not a governor by birth.
I am always ready to lose what I have but I cannot leave my commitment. I can quit the post but cannot see farmers suffering and getting defeated,” the Meghalaya Governor said.
This is not for the first time that Malik has criticised the BJP-led Government at the Centre over the three farm laws.
In March this year, Malik had said none of the new farm laws were in favour of the farmers.
“None of the laws are in favour of farmers. A 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 had said urging Modi and Home Minister Ami Shah ‘not to offend the farmers.’