Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Farmers will force Centre to accede to their demands: Tikait

- Neeraj Mohan neeraj.mohan@hindustant­imes.com

INDRI (KARNAL): Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said that farmers will force the Union government to accept their demands and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to chant the ‘kisan zindabad’ slogans.

“The ‘annadaata’ is being insulted and they are calling us traitors. We will not tolerate this insult and will force the government to withdraw the three farm laws, enact a law on MSP and the PM will have to chant slogans in favour of farmers,” Tikait said while addressing farmers at a ‘kisan mahapancha­yat’ on Sunday.

Farmer leaders Rakesh Tikait, Gurnam Singh Charuni, Darshan Pal and Balbir Singh Rajewal were given a rousing welcome in Karnal. They carried out a road show from Karnal to Indri. The farmer leaders, under the banner of Snyukt Kisan Morcha, are holding ‘kisan mahapancha­yats’ to mobilise support for farmer protest against the three contentiou­s farm laws.

“So far we have just asked for repealing of the farm laws and not change of government,” he said, adding that the government will have to prioritise farmers and rural India.

Urging farmers and labourers to unite in support of the ongoing agitation, Tikait said the farm laws will not just ruin the farming community but will also affect consumers, small traders, vendors and labourers.

“Government will investigat­e our properties, but we want to tell them that the all agricultur­e land in country belongs to us,” he added.

Charuni said, “Our movement is getting overwhelmi­ng support from Punjab and Haryana. Now we will hold such panchayats in other states as well to unite farmers of the entire country against the farm laws.”

Rajewal said, “The PM’S state

SAYS THE NEW AGRI LAWS WILL NOT JUST RUIN THE FARMING COMMUNITY BUT WILL ALSO AFFECT CONSUMERS, SMALL TRADERS, VENDORS AND LABOURERS

of Andolanjiv­i and Parjivi (parasite) has united the farmers. There is anger against the PM.”

Farm leaders slam Dalal

In a media interactio­n, Tikait slammed Haryana agricultur­e minister JP Dalal for making a controvers­ial statement over the death of farmers amid the ongoing protest.

“Politician­s should not be making such statements over farmers’ death if they cannot pay tributes to them,” he said.

Charuni said that Dalal has insulted the farming community and “its time to teach him a lesson”. “His statement has proved that he has no respect for farmers,” he said.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? BKU leader Rakesh Tikait along with others during a kisan mahapancha­yat in Karnal on Sunday.
HT PHOTO BKU leader Rakesh Tikait along with others during a kisan mahapancha­yat in Karnal on Sunday.

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