Bollywood actors Taapsee Pannu and Richa Chadha has expressed their disgust over the comments made by Haryana agriculture minister Jai Prakash Dalal in connection to the ongoing farmers’ protest. The two actor took to Twitter to show their disappointment in the minister’s comment wherein he talked about farmers who have died while protesting at the Singhu and Tikri borders. The leader said that farmers have died even if they were home.
Retweeting a news clip about Dalal’s comments, Taapsee wrote, “Value of human life ‘zilch’! Value of ppl who grow your food ‘zilch’ Mocking their deaths …. priceless ! Slow claps.” Richa wrote, “Utterly disgraceful! We deserve better.”
During a press conference in Haryana’s Bhiwani on Saturday, talking about farmers’ protest Dalal said, “Would not they have died if they were at home? Had they been at their homes, they would have died there also. Out of one to two lakh, do 200 people not die in six months? Someone is dying of a heart attack and someone after falling ill… They died of their own will. I have my deepest sympathies for them,” Dalal said on being asked about the alleged death of 200 farmers during the ongoing stir against farm laws.
Later, while giving clarification over his remarks, Dalal in a video said: “During the press conference, I condoled the demise of farmers who died during the protest. Even if a person dies unnaturally, it is painful. As far as the matter of giving the status of martyred is considered, the Jawans are given this status as the government has made policy for it.”
“My statement was twisted and the wrong meaning was given to it. I saw the video on social media. I tender my apologies if somebody was hurt by my statement. As Haryana’s Agriculture Minister, I am working for the welfare of the farmers,” he added.
Farmers have been protesting on the borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm law.