"Award Winners Aren't Patriots," Says BJP Leader Kamal Patel

Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kamal Patel said those who are returning their awards in support of the farmers are not patriots. "Awards were returned earlier also. How have they got the awards? 'Bharat mata ko gali do','desh ke tukde karo' and this is how they get the awards? These so-called awardees and intellectuals are not patriots," said Patel. Several sportspersons and eminent personalities of Punjab and Haryana have been returning their awards (Padma, Dronacharya, and Arjuna award) in order to show solidarity with the farmers. Boxer Vijender Singh, who had joined the farmers' agitation at the Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border), earlier, had also said that he will return his Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award if the new agriculture laws are not withdrawn. Farmers have been protesting since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws--Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.