Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat joins farmers’ protest; says government’s priority should be to resolve their problems

Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat supports farmers' protest for MSP in Punjab, urging government to fulfill their demands.

Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday (August 31, 2024) attended the ongoing farmers’ protest being staged in support of their long-pending demands including a legal guarantee for purchasing their crops at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Punjab’s Shambhu village.

Coming out in support of farmers’, Ms. Phogat said “I have come to extend support to my family (farmers)... the farmers of the country are in trouble, their problems should be resolved, in fact, it should be the first priority of the government to resolve their issues.”

Farmers to hold maha panchayat on September 15 and 22, ask center to open borders to Delhi

Group of farmers under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) — the two umbrella bodies that are spearheading farmer’s agitation in Punjab have been, since February 13, camping at Shambhu-Ambala and Khanauri-Jind – the inter-State boundaries between Haryana and Punjab, after being stopped from entering Haryana.

They had earlier given the call for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to press for fulfillment of their demands, a legal guarantee for purchasing their crops at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) and a farm loan waiver are among the key ones. The farmers have been asking the Centre government to fulfill their demands.

“..The government should listen to farmers. The government after the previous farmers’ protest (referring to the year-long farmers’ protest on farm laws) made a few promises to them, which it should fulfill. If the people of the country keep sitting (for protest) on the road it’s not good for the country.. It’s been 200 days that farmers have been in protest but, sadly, the government is not listening,” she said at Shambhu, where she was felicitated by the protesting farmers.

Pointing out that it hurts to see the farmers protesting for their legitimate demands, she added, “At times, we feel helpless at not being able to do anything for them. We represent the country at international levels but we could not do anything for our own family (farmers). I have come here to tell you that your daughter is with you. I request the government to listen to them.”