Advertisment

Punjab scientist refuses an award from Union Minister, says ‘conscience doesn’t allow’

author-image
Gitanjali Mangal
New Update
Punjab scientist refuses an award from Union Minister, says ‘conscience doesn’t allow’
Advertisment
Punjab agriculturalist Dr Varinder Pal Singh has refused to accept an award from the Centre as a gesture of support to farmers protesting against the government’s agricultural laws.
Advertisment
publive-image Also Read | Center sends proposal to farmers, leaders to take final call He is the principal
Advertisment
soil chemist at the Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, and was recognized by the Fertilizer Association of India for his work in the field of plant nutrition. At an event in Delhi on Monday, he was supposed to receive the award from
Advertisment
Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister DV Sadananda Gowda. But he refused to accept the award saying that his conscience would not allow it at a time of crisis when “our farmers are on the roads”. “I wish that we shall work together for the nation and the government shall listen to our dear farmers,” Singh said. “The work I did is only for the farmers and our nation, so I feel I would be guilty if at this moment I receive this award.” Though he was repeatedly urged to accept the award since the minister was standing on the stage, Singh refused. https://twitter.com/omthanvi/status/1336287185146789894 https://twitter.com/omthanvi/status/1336243668714287105 “My conscious does not allow me to receive this award from any government official, because of unnecessary pains given by the GOI to the peacefully protesting Indian farmers (sic),” Singh wrote in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a separate letter addressed to Sadananda Gowda, Singh said that receiving the award “for the sake of professional benefit would be a betrayal” to the farmers and the country. In his letter to the prime minister, Singh lauded the farmers for remaining “disciplined and peaceful” during their protests. He added that the new agricultural laws were “anti-social, anti-farmer and dangerous for socio-economic structure of India” and urged the prime minister to withdraw them. Several other eminent personalities have also returned their awards over the last few days to register their solidarity with the farmers. Former Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal returned his Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India, last week. Earlier, Olympic medalist boxer Vijender Singh had also said that he would return the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest sporting honour. -PTC News-
punjab-agricultural-university-in-ludhiana fertilizer-association-of-india principal-soil-chemist punjab-agriculturalist-dr-varinder-pal-singh union-chemicals-and-fertilizers-minister-dv-sadananda-gowda
Advertisment

Stay updated with the latest news headlines.

Follow us:
Advertisment