By – Raza Hasnain Naqvi

Meghalaya Governor Satyapal Malik and BJP MP Varun Gandhi continue to press painful buttons in support of the farmers’ protest that has the ruling BJP government both at the Centre and in states looking red-faced at each other.

Ever since the farmers’ agitation began on the repeal of farm laws and related matters since September 2020, there have been two prominent names in the BJP-led Central Government who have raised their voices consistently in support of the farmers’ protest.

Sitting BJP MP from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi and BJP-appointed current Meghalaya Governor Satyapal Malik are not holding their personal thoughts to themselves about the farmers’ agitation. Both are airing their ‘pro-farmers protest’ opinions clearly without any room for doubt and making the BJP and its supporters quite uncomfortable.

Satyapal Malik’s Strong Opinions

The Meghalaya Governor has been known to say things without beating around the bush. He prefers to say whatever he has on his mind without too much thought for political and personal ramifications.

Interestingly, Satyapal Malik may be the first Governor in Indian history who is actively criticising the same government that installed him as a Governor.

Incidentally, before starting his duty as Governor of Meghalaya on 18 August 2020, Malik has been the Governor of Odisha, Governor of Bihar, Governor of Jammu & Kashmir and Governor of Goa. Here are some recent examples of his frank and outspoken opinions.

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1. In October 2021 Malik alleged that when he was Governor of J&K, he was told that if he cleared files belonging to Ambani and a senior RSS office-bearer then he would get a bribe of Rs 300 crore. He also made corruption allegations against Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, who in turn have threatened legal action against Malik.
2. Malik has made allegations against the BJP-led government in Goa saying that “there was corruption in the Goa government in handling everything”. He made these allegations on the covid19 work being executed by the Goa government and on other government work. This statement led the opposition parties in Goa to aggressively demand that the chief minister of Goa step down.
3. He has persistently supported the farmers’ agitation saying that their demands are justified and that the prime minister should look into them seriously. He has made public statements saying that even if a dog dies condolence is sent, but despite more than 600 farmers dying in the farmers’ agitation, there is no word of condolence.
4. A recent video has also emerged after the repeal of farm laws where Malik is seen speaking at the Global Jat Summit on 8 November 2021. In the video he has issued a stern statement on farmers’ protest saying that the prime minister cannot defeat the Sikhs or the Jats. He added that the four children of a Sikh guru were killed, but the Guru did not surrender. In the same manner, the farmers would not surrender and the prime minister should not use force against them and the farmers would not leave empty-handed. “They do not forget easily, even after 300 years….Don’t test the patience of the Sikh community.” Malik also mentioned the killing of General Vaidya in Pune and General Dyer in London giving context to his statement.

These statements of the Meghalaya governor angered most pro-BJP supporters. They expressed their opinions freely on social media about it with a top trending hashtag #SackSatyapalMalik on 23 November 2021.

Malik was trolled and many of them even said that he had no right to occupy the post of governor.

However, in a tweet on 19 November 2021 Satyapal Malik did express his gratefulness to the Prime Minister for repealing the three farm laws.

Varun Gandhi’s Straight Talk

BJP MP from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi is another senior BJP leader who has been open in his support for the farmers’ agitation. His recent tweet of 20 November 2021 welcomed the withdrawal of the three farm laws. But he also went ahead and requested in the same tweet that the demand for a law on MSP must also be decided upon immediately.

He has even written a letter dated 20 November 2021 to the prime minister sharing his thoughts and suggestions on the farmers’ protest. He shared this letter on social media after the PM’s announcement on the repeal of farm laws. Major points that he has expressed in this letter are:

Read also: Varun Gandhi writes to PM on MSP and Kheri violence

• While expressing condolences to the families of 700 farmers who have lost their lives in the farmers’ agitation, compensation of Rs one crore each be announced for them.
• All politically motivated FIRs against farmers be immediately quashed.
• Accept demand of farmers related to making MSP legally binding.
• Provocative statements have been made by leaders in senior positions against agitating farmers, which resulted in farmers being crushed to death in Lakhimpur Kheri.
• Take strict action against Union Minister connected to this incident.
• Accept the demands of the farmers and your respect shall further increase in the country.

In another incident, on 29 October 2021, Varun Gandhi shared a video on social media of his visit to a farmers’ mandi with the comment that until MSP is legalised farmers will continue to be exploited. He had come to know that corruption was rampant there and farmers were distressed.

In the mandi video, he was seen criticising the mandi staff. He said that he would not complain to the government against them, but he would go to court over any farmer exploitation and get them arrested.

Just a Thought

Both Satyapal Malik and Varun Gandhi have been straying away from BJP’s party line on the farmers’ protest. They are openly siding with the agitating farmers and criticising and giving suggestions to the BJP-led Central government and the prime minister on resolving the problems of farmers. It is a matter of conjecture and personal opinion when and if the BJP will take any strong action against either Malik or Gandhi. The fact remains that the voices of Satyapal Malik and Varun Gandhi are the loudest from the BJP camp in support of agitating farmers of India.