Phogat reaches at 'kisan mahapanchayat', says govt should listen to farmers

Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday reached at kisan mahapanchayat and said that the government should listen to the protesting farmers and address their issues reported the PTIVinesh Phogat joined protesting farmers at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana and said the central government should pay heed to their demandsThe Samyukt Kisan Morcha NonPolitical and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha held a kisan mahapanchayat during the day to mark the completion of 200 days of their Delhi Chalo agitation to press for their demands including a legal guarantee for MSPThe farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 when their march was stopped by security forcesAccording to the PTI Vinesh Phogat who was disqualified from the 50kg final match in the recent Olympic Games held in Paris was felicitated by the protesting farmersIn her address the wrestler lent her support to the farmers saying I want to tell you that your daughter is with you She also asserted that farmers demands were not illegitimateSpeaking to reporters Vinesh said that the farmers are holding the protest as their demands have still not been accepted It hurts to see them she addedSometimes we feel helpless at not being able to do anything for them We represent the country at international levels but we could not do anything for our own family It is a request that the government should listen to them she said as per the PTIReplying to a question the wrestler said it was sad that although 200 days have passed the protesting farmers continue to sit on the roads as their demands have not been acceptedIf the farmers do not feed us how will we be able to compete Despite so much happening they are feeding the nation with open hearts They have a big heart and the government should also show a big heart in the matter Vinesh Phogat added the news agency reported on SaturdayTo a question on the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana the wrestler from Charkhi Dadri district said I do not know about politics I do not have any knowledge about itAsked if she would support farmers in Haryana should they launch an agitation she replied Why notFarmers of the country are upset and their problems need to be addressed It should be the governments priority to address their problems Their struggle will not go in vain I am sure about this Phogat saidVinesh Phogat who hails from Haryanas Balali faced a heartbreaking exit after being disqualified on the day of her 50kg final match at the Paris OlympicsShe was part of the agitation by wrestlers mostly from Haryana against the then Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP leader Brijbhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment last yearA few days ago she was honoured with a gold medal by the Sarvkhap Panchayat in Haryanas Rohtakwith PTI inputs