The state’s Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare J. P. Projects were conducted in various parts of Haryana to denounce the alleged “insensitive comments” by the broker who was killed during the ongoing agitation on Delhi’s borders against the agriculture laws of the central government. In many places farmers burnt effigies of the broker.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar interacted with media persons during a press conference on January 21, 2021 at Bharat Bhawan Sector 3, Haryana. The Haryana government on Tuesday launched a one-time registration portal for job seekers. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that with the launch of the portal, candidates will only need to apply to the portal once and submit fees.
In the video being shared widely on social media, the broker is reportedly heard responding to a media query over the deaths of over 200 farmers during the ongoing stir and commented that they were back home, even though He may have died.
“If they had been at their homes, they would have died there too. Listen to me, out of one to two lakhs, 200 people don’t die in six months? Somebody is dying of a heart attack and someone is falling ill, ”the broker reportedly said.
An hour later, the minister said his statement was changed on social media and attributed “misinterpretation” to it. “I apologize if anyone gets hurt by this,” he said, adding that he would continue to work for the welfare of the farmers, and that it is painful if someone dies.
Farmers, especially those sitting on toll plazas on national highways, burnt effigies of the minister. Dayanand Poonia, secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Haryana unit, said the farmers were angry with the broker’s remarks.
The minister laughed at the deaths of the farmers killed during the movement. They even tried to discredit the peasant movement, ”said Poonia. According to the farmer leader, the agitators burnt effigies of the minister in several villages in Bhiwani district, including Bidhwan, Matani, Kalali, Talwani, Mandoli and Obra.
Farmers also burnt effigies of the minister at the Landari toll plaza on Hisar-Sirsa National Highway. Suresh Kumar, a former member of Hisar Zilla Parishad, said that after the video clipping of the minister’s statement went viral, the farmers started calling to start the protest on Saturday evening itself.
Ever since the protests began, brokers have been facing opposition from farmers for their controversial statements. Farmers are apprehensive that “corporates will seize their land after implementing three agricultural laws”.
The broker, however, said, “The already existing mandi system will continue to function. Now, only one alternative system is offered, which is only optional. Farmers can opt for any system. There is nothing in the law that is binding on farmers. There is no argument of agitation in Haryana. Small farmers have been misled to say that the mandi system will collapse and the minimum support price (MSP) will be abolished after the new laws are implemented.”