NEW DELHI: In solidarity for ongoing farmers’ protest, a scientist from Punjab declined to accept his award from Union Minister. In the incident, Varinder Pal, a scientist at Agricultural University reached the dias where the Minister for Fertiliser and Chemicals, CV Sadananda Gowda, was giving away golden jubilee awards of Fertiliser Association of India.
When it was Varinder Pal’s turn to receive the award for exemplary work in the field of agriculture, he politely decline to accept the ward saying : “My conscience does not allow me to accept this award when farmers are protesting in the streets. This is the time when we must jointly resolve issues. The govt must become willing to hear farmers’ concerns. I work for the farmers of our land. Hence, accepting the award under current circumstances would mean injustice tot hem.” He then raised a slogan “I live for the farmers” and left the stage.
The Union Minister and Fertiliser Association repeated their request asking Varinder to accept the award. The scientist later sent letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sadanada Gowda explaining his perspective. In the letter, Varinder also wrote that the government stance and propaganda portraying farmers as terrorists had hurt him much.
