Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi says those agitating are not farmers but 'mawalis'

Newly appointed Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi created a storm after she referred to protesting farmers as ‘mawalis'. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader used these words at a press conference while talking about an alleged attack on a media person during the ‘Farmers’ Parliament’ at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Thursday.

"Don't term them farmers, they are mawali. The country knows what happened on January 26," said BJP MP from New Delhi constituency Meenakshi Lekhi, adding "These are criminal acts. What happened on January 26 were also shameful criminals activities. Opposition promoted such activities," added Meenakshi Lekhi.

This triggered a quick response from Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who called it an "insult" to 80 crore annadatas. Objecting to Lekhi's statement, Tikait said she should be ashamed of herself and stop eating the foodgrains grown by them.

"Hooligans are the ones who have nothing. It is wrong to make such remarks for farmers. We are farmers, not hooligans. Farmers are 'anndatas' of the land. Such a remark is an insult to 80 crore farmers of India. If we're hooligans, Meenakshi Lekhi ji should stop eating foodgrain grown by us. She should be ashamed of herself. We have passed a resolution in 'Farmers' Parliament condemning her statement," Tikait said.

Earlier, a group of 200 farmers protesting the Centre's three agri laws started a 'Kisan Sansad' at central Delhi's Jantar Mantar. This is the first time since the January 26 violence in Delhi during the tractor rally that the authorities have granted permission to protesting farmer unions to hold a protest in the city.