A memorial gathering was organized today by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni at the Jagadhri grain market in Yamunanagar district to pay tribute to former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik, who passed away recently. The event, attended by a large number of farmers from Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, was led by BKU Charuni national president Gurnam Singh Charuni. Farmers strongly criticized the BJP government for denying state honours to Satyapal Malik, alleging that the decision was politically motivated. Speakers recalled that while serving as Governor, Malik openly spoke against the BJP government’s policies, supported the farmers’ movement, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage directly with protesting farmers to resolve the agitation. Malik had also condemned the Pulwama terror attack and demanded a transparent investigation, which, according to farmers’ leaders, became the reason behind the government’s denial of state honours after his demise. “Any person who speaks for the nation and against the wrong policies of the government is branded as anti-national. The same happened with Satyapal Malik. He never spoke against the nation. Even Shaheed Bhagat Singh was denied martyr status by the governments of the time,” said Gurnam Singh Charuni while addressing the gathering. He demanded that the government immediately accord state honours to Malik, warning that if the demand is ignored, memorial meetings will be organized at every district headquarters as a mark of protest. Charuni added that it is the government’s responsibility to pay tribute to Satyapal Malik with full state honours. The memorial ceremony was presided over by farmer leader Krishan Pal Sudhal and saw participation from several political parties, who also voiced opposition to the government’s policies. Leaders announced that on September 14, a united memorial program will be organized in Delhi by all farmers’ organizations in Malik’s honour. Prominent attendees included BKU’s acting state president Karam Singh Mathana, district president Sanju Gundiana, women’s state president Suman Hooda, Manoj Nagar from Uttar Pradesh, Happy Harpal from Punjab, Krishan from Kurukshetra, Malkit from Ambala, Vikram Kasana, youth state president Ashok Latwal from Sonipat, Mamta from Rohtak, Same Singh from Rewari, Numberdar from Sirsa, Ranjit from Fatehabad, Narendra Singh from Panchkula, and state media in-charge Sandeep Singroha. The turnout highlighted farmers’ continuing discontent with the government’s handling of dissenting voices and reaffirmed their solidarity with leaders who stand against anti-farmer policies.
