Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has joined the ongoing protest at the Shambhu border, where farmers from Haryana and Delhi have been demonstrating for 200 days. The farmers are demanding that the Central government honor its promises, particularly concerning a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.
Speaking at the protest site, Vinesh Phogat expressed concern over the prolonged demonstration. She said, “It has been 200 days since they are sitting here. It is painful to see this. All of them are citizens of this country. Farmers run the country. Nothing is possible without them, not even athletes—if they don’t feed us, we won’t be able to compete. Many times we are helpless and can’t do anything; we represent the country at such big levels but can’t do anything for our family even when we see them sad.”
Phogat urged the government to listen to the protesters and fulfill its promises. “The country won’t progress if people sit on streets like this,” she stated.
During her visit, farmer leaders honored Phogat for her support.
On August 22, the Supreme Court instructed the states of Punjab and Haryana to continue discussions with the farmers to resolve the blockade at the Shambhu border. The court had previously directed local authorities to consider partial reopening of the highway for essential services and daily commuters.
Earlier this year, the Haryana government had installed barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway in response to farmers planning to march to Delhi to press their demands.