PATIALA: Expressing solidarity with the farmers who are sitting on protest at Delhi's border against the central farm laws, a retired Comdt. of Punjab home guards and civil defence, Rai Singh Dhaliwal, has announced to return his President Medal Award he was bestowed for his meritorious services.
Rai Singh of Patiala said that the award was announced to him back in 2007 for his meritorious services but was honoured with it only four months ago by DGP home guard and civil defence.
Having roots in the farming, Rai Singh himself has been doing farming in his agricultural fields since his retirement on November 30 this year.
"I will return the President Medal award in protest against the stocking indifference and contempt with the government is treating the ongoing peaceful and democratic agitation against the farm act. For the past 70 years, these farmers are serving the nation. I express solidarity with the farmers protesting at on Delhi's border since November 27", said Rai Singh.
He added, "I am also a farmer and have been into the farming like my father and I own 12 acres of land in Shergarh village of Sangrur district while my son, who is studying, is also into the farming. We have been sowing wheat and paddy crops too. When the central government and the President cannot repeal the farm laws then how can we value their awards? We don't need these awards".
Notably, on Thursday former Punjab CM and SAD (B) patron Parkash Singh Badal returned his Padma Vibhushan and former Union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa who recently formed SAD (Democratic) party after parting ways from SAD (B), returned his Padma Bhushan award against the betrayal of the farmers sitting on protest at Delhi's border.