Vinesh Phogat Joins Farmers' Protest Along Shambhu Border, Says Govt Needs To Prioritise MSP Issue

Vinesh Phogat has joined farmers protesting against the government at the Delhi-Haryana border on Saturday, marking the 200th day of their agitation for a guaranteed minimum support price for crops.

Olympian Vinesh Phogat on Saturday joined the farmers' protest against the BJP-led Centre along the Delhi-Haryana border in Shambhu as their agitation entered the 200th day. The farmers, who have been protesting the denial of a minimum support price (MSP) guarantee for all crops by the government, welcomed Vinesh Phogat and garlanded her. Farmers have been sitting at the protest site along the Shambhu border since February 13 this year. 

Joining the protest, Vinesh Phogat said: "I don't know much about policies, but farmers of my country are troubled. The government should prioritise this issue."

"I have also worked in the fields earlier. Everyone protests out of compulsion. When a long protest persists, people get hope. If our people sit on the road, how will the country progress? We should come on the road to get our rights," she said.

The farmers have planned a massive rally along the Shambhu border on Saturday as their protest entered the 200th day.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said: We demand that the Centre open this route and let us advance to Delhi where we can peacefully demand the legal guarantee for MSP as well as other issues...

The farmers also called for strict action against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's comments over the protests in 2019-20. Kangana in a podcast had said "bodies were seen hanging and rapes were taking place" during the farmers' protests. Kangana also said: "What happened in Bangladesh, it could have easily happened here too."

Reacting to this, farmers organisations' umbrella body the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha announced a protest in Chandigarh on September 2. Farmers have also opposed Kangana's films.

This comes right before the Haryana elections scheduled to be held on October 1. The BJP and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini have now gone into damage-control mode. Last week, Saini was seen riding a bullock cart to connect with women from the farming community. The BJP is also likely to field a few candidates from the farming community in the Haryana elections to repair the damage.