An agricultural scientist refused on stage to accept an award from a Union minister in solidarity with the protesting farmers

Ludhiana: An agricultural scientist refused on stage to accept an award from a Union minister in solidarity with the protesting farmers and later urged the Centre to withdraw the new “anti-national” farm laws.

Varinderpal Singh, principal soil chemist at the state-funded Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, had climbed onto the stage after being called to receive the Fertilisers Association of India’s golden jubilee award for his scientific work.

Varinderpal Singh

He thanked chemicals and fertilisers minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and the association for the recognition but politely refused to accept the award just as the minister was about to hand it to him.

“My conscience does not allow me to receive this award.... I feel I would be guilty if at this moment I receive this award,” the scientist said.

Varinderpal Singh

Singh wrote: “It is a time of crisis for the nation when farmers are on the roads with their genuine demands and the government is not accepting their request to withdraw the anti-national laws.”

He described the farm laws as anti-farmer, antisocial and dangerous for the socio-economic structure of India.