New Delhi (India), March 20: Congress MP Imran Masood expressed his discontent with the central government’s focus on unrelated issues while farmers in the country continue to face significant hardships.
Masood stated, “It is unfortunate that the farmers of the country are suffering, and the youth are frustrated, yet the government is occupied with irrelevant topics. No one is addressing the issues of farmers; instead, we’re bringing up topics from 400 years ago and making them political debates.”
He called on the BJP-led government to engage in discussions with the farmers instead of focusing on unnecessary matters. “The farmers are suffering, so engage with them. The youth are distressed, so talk to them. Yet, instead of addressing these concerns, the government is sidetracked by irrelevant issues,” Masood added.
Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also criticized the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government over the arrest of protesting farmers at the Shambhu border. He demanded their immediate release and condemned the state government for not fulfilling its promise to provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. “The Bhagwant Mann government, which had promised to provide MSP in five minutes, is now ignoring the legitimate demands of farmers,” Badal wrote on social media.
Indian Olympic medalist and Working President of Kisan Congress, Bajrang Punia, also condemned the government’s actions after farmers were arrested during their protest at the Shambhu Border. He stated, “The government was pretending to engage with farmers, but arresting them after talks shows they are not serious about resolving their issues. This is a betrayal.”
Farmer leader and national spokesperson for Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Rakesh Tikait, joined in criticizing the Punjab government for its contradictory actions. “On one hand, the government is negotiating with farmer organizations, and on the other hand, it is arresting them,” Tikait said.
On Wednesday, Punjab police removed farmers from the Punjab-Haryana Khanauri and Shambhu Borders, where they had been protesting over demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP on all crops.