Now, Pravin Togadia bats for farmers

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According to the VHP leader the rights of over 60 crore farmers of India have been ignored for long. “I want to state clearly that we are against land acquisition. The land of farmers should not be acquired,” Togadia said in a VHP event where he presented the “Hindu Ratna” awards to badminton legend and national coach Pullela Gopichand and two other agriculture scientists.

“Of the total land in the country, about 50 percent is nonagricultural land. I want that industries come in this country and they grow, but give the nonagricultural land to the industrialists. If you want to make roads, then you can take the farmer’s land. But it is not right to acquire one kilometer of farmer’s land on both sides of the road” he added.

“I will tell both the Centre and all the state governments that they need to change their outlook towards farmers, or otherwise 60 crore farmers will not be able to survive in villages. They will start migrating to cities which will not be able to sustain the influx,” Togadia added.

VHP presents award to Pullela Gopichand

Meanwhile, while receiving the award from the VHP which includes a citation and a cash reward of Rs 51,000, the badminton coach, Pullela Gopichand said, “It is a happy moment for me that I am receiving this award from the VHP…” He went on to describe his association with yoga and how it had helped him recuperate from his injuries. He also mentioned his association and meeting with saints whenever he toured during his playing days. He claimed that these meetings helped him improve his concentration.

The citation read out during the award ceremony described Gopichand as a person who has been associated with “gaushalas”, an expert on yoga and a person who had refused an advertising project from an multi-national company.