Olympian Vinesh Phogat attended an event of farmers at the Shambhu border as their protest demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) entered its 200th day on Saturday, August 31.
Protests are also scheduled to be held at Khanauri, Shambhu and Ratanpura borders. The farmers are demanding a legal guarantee of MSP for all crops along with other important issues. They have been protesting at the Shambhu border since February 13, when authorities stopped their march to Delhi. Renowned athlete and supporter of the farmers’ movement Vinesh Phogat was felicitated by the farmers during the day’s events.
Vinesh Phogat said at the event, “It has been 200 days since they are sitting here. It is sad to see this. They are all citizens of this country. Farmers run the country. Nothing is possible without them, not even athletes – if they don’t feed us, we won’t be able to compete. Many times we are helpless and can’t do anything, we represent the country at such a big stage
But we cannot do anything for our families even though we see them in pain. I urge the government to listen. They admitted their mistake last time, they should fulfil the promises they made. The country will not move forward if people keep sitting on the streets like this.”