Announcing that he is ready to step down from his post to support the farmers’ movement, the Governor of Meghalaya Satya Pal Malik On Sunday he said leaders in Delhi mourn “even when the dog dies” but do not care about the death of farmers.
Malik also criticized the Central Vista redevelopment plan, a project in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken personal interest, saying it would be better to build a world-class college instead of a new Parliament building.
These were the latest in a series of provocative comments by the governor, who are directly or indirectly targeting him. BJP Central and state governments on the issue of farmers and alleged corruption.
Malik became the governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Goa and Meghalaya during Modi’s tenure.
Addressing the Global Jat Summit here, Malik said if he speaks anything on the issue of farmers, it will create controversy. But he continued his remarks, taunting “well-wishers”, whom he said wait for him to speak.
He said that “two or three” leaders in Delhi made him the governor. “The day they tell me they have a problem and ask me to step down, I won’t take a minute,” he said.
“I am not a governor by birth. I am always ready to lose what I have but I cannot give up my commitment. I can quit but cannot see farmers suffer and defeat.
He said there has never been an agitation in the country in which “600 people” have been killed, a reference to the deaths of various causes by protesters at Delhi’s borders for months against the Centre’s agricultural laws.
“If even a dog dies, a condolence message is sent by the leaders of Delhi. But I am sad that 600 farmers were killed but no resolution was passed in Parliament.
He also referred to the 1984 assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, and said she had asked Modi not to oppose Sikhs and Jats – communities that form a large part of the protesters.
“I told them not to use force against them and not to send them back empty handed. They don’t forget for 300 years. When the Akal Takht was damaged, Mrs. Indira Gandhi performed the Mahamrityunjaya mantra yagna at her farmhouse as she knew she would be killed,” he claimed.
“I also asked the PM to tell the farmers that ‘I am right and you are wrong’ but I still accept your point of view as I cannot see your suffering,” he said.
Saying this will increase the stature of the PM, argued Malik.
He reiterated his suggestion that the issue could be addressed through guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP).
He claimed that the army has felt the impact of the movement on the central laws as the sons of farmers also serve in the army.
“Anything can happen. Today you are in power and are arrogant and don’t know what the outcome will be. When Kargil happens, the sons of these farmers are sent to the hills to fight.” He said people may someday react to the “injustice”. “I don’t want the day to come when farmers will react,” he said.
Referring to the Republic Day violence when the protesters were moving in their tractors towards the capital’s Red Fort, he said it was the right of the farmers to hoist the national flag there after the Prime Minister. He said that the Red Fort is mentioned in the songs of Jats and Sikhs.
In a veiled reference to farmers’ protest against BJP leaders in Haryana, he said Chief Minister ML Khattar’s helicopter cannot land in any village in the state.
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