Warning the centre against hurting Punjab farmers, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday asked the Union government of handling the ongoing farmers protest with sensitivity. He also reminded it about the destabilising the border state and that majority of farmers are from the Punjab region.
Referring to former prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination during Khalistan militancy, Pawar said that we have had seen the consequences of upsetting Punjab in the past.
Pawar's comments came in the background of the gruesome killing of a Dalit farmer at the Singhu border on Friday.
The senior NCP leader while addressing the media in Pimpri stated that the Union government's stand does not seem rational.
For the uninformed, Sharad Pawar had handled defence and agriculture portfolios at the Centre.
Noting that those who are participating in the protest are mostly from Punjab, Pawar said, "The central government should not upset farmers from Punjab, since it is a border state. In the ongoing agitation, the majority of farmers are from Punjab."
Also Read: ‘No regrets’ says Nihang who claimed brutal killing at Singhu border
Recollecting Indira Gandhi's assassination that involved her bodyguards who were Sikhs, he said, "Punjab is a state on the border. If we make the states on the border unstable, then what are the ramification of it, that has been seen once before.”
Saying that the country has paid the price for troubling Punjab which was the assassination of Indira Gandhi
"Our country has paid the price of upsetting Punjab, even (then prime minister) Indira Gandhi lost her life. On the other hand, farmers of Punjab, irrespective of whether they are Sikh or Hindu, have contributed to the food supply," the NCP chief added.
People residing in border areas experience several security-related issues which those living in states such as Maharashtra do not go through, said the NCP leader.
"Therefore, when a person who is making sacrifices is sitting in protest with some demands for a long time, paying attention to him is what the nation requires," Pawar added.
Also Read: Singhu Border Murder: 15 Dalit outfits demand strict action against culprit
Earlier on Friday, a 36-year-old Dalit man’s mutilated body was found hanging on a metal police barricade at the Singhu border which is one of the farmers protest sites. A Nihang group has been accused of murdering the deceased, identified as Lakhbir Singh resident of village Cheema Khurd in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. He was killed over disrespecting the holy grant of Sikhs. Arrests have been made in connection to the case and a probe is underway.
Meanwhile, the farmers' agitation has crossed a year and there have been no headways yet between the union government and the farmer's unions.
They have been protesting against the farm laws enacted by the centre: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.