Former Army Chief and current Minister of State VK Singh spoke to the ANI news agency (archive)
New Delhi:
Shortly after State Minister VK Singh said that the thousands of men and women protesting against the center’s new agricultural laws “do not appear to be farmers,” Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) responded and asked whether they had to “come with a plow and oxen to look like farmers.”
“Many of the people in (the) photos do not appear to be farmers,” Singh said, as quoted Tuesday night by ANI news agency, in comments suggesting that a “farmer” must have a certain appearance.
“What interests the farmers has been done. It is not the farmers who have a problem with this (the agricultural laws) but with others. Besides (from) the opposition, the people who get a commission are behind (the protests) , “added the union minister.
The concise response from a line from the AAP comes amid pressure on the center to respond to farmers and as several BJP leaders push for a counter-narrative, including Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Amit Malviya, the head of the party’s TI cell, that the protest is politically motivated and does not actually include farmers.
Should they come with a plow and oxen to look like farmers? https://t.co/sdjOEjU9rE
– AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 1, 2020
On Monday, Malviya claimed that “Khalistanis and Maoists” are behind the protests and accused the AAP of “seizing the opportunity to burn Delhi.”
Khattar said on Saturday that no farmers from Haryana were part of the protest, only to be yelled at by a chorus of voices brandishing government-issued identification cards as evidence. He also accused his Punjab counterpart of organizing the protests and referred to “unwanted elements” in the crowd.
Outraged and irate farmers from various states, including BJP-ruled Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, marched to the national capital over the past week, determined to fight the center over “black” laws that they say will leave them at the mercy. of corporate organizations and jeopardizing their livelihoods.
Thousands of farmers marched to Delhi in the last week to protest against the “black” laws.
As they made their way towards Delhi, shocking images emerged of the police resorting to lathi charges, tear gas and water cannons to push back what was a peaceful protest. The government’s handling of the movement has been criticized by several people, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Tonight the farmers’ representatives met with the government for conversations that were not conclusive. A third round is scheduled for Thursday. The farmers are convinced that the new laws should be repealed and have rejected proposals to form a committee to investigate the matter.
The government says the laws will reform the agricultural sector and allow farmers to sell their products anywhere in the country. Critics and farmers fear being invaded by business.
With contributions from ANI
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