Hindustan Times (Patiala)

Can’t agree with Tikait on Oct 2 ultimatum to government: Charuni

- Bhavey Nagpal letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

AMBALA: Bharatiya Kisan Union state president Gurnam Singh Charuni, who was in Yamunanaga­r and Ambala to address the protesting farmers on Wednesday, said that he doesn’t agree with farmer leader Rakesh Tikait giving an ultimatum to the Union government of taking back the three contentiou­s farm laws by October 2.

“Tikait’s statement is wrong and no one, including me, agrees with him. It is not a decision of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, so this could be his personal opinion or he must have joked. We will fight till the laws are repealed,” Charuni said.

He said that the state government, led by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, will fall soon. Charuni, a native of Charuni Jattan village in Kurukshetr­a, has a considerab­le presence of his followers and activists in nearby districts.

While Tikait, credited for giving a new life to the protests post-Republic Day violence, has been addressing ‘mahapancha­yats’ in Haryana, Charuni has joined him in a few rallies in the Jat-land of the state and on Tuesday hit out at the CM for “advising” Tikait to explain (the laws) in his state (Uttar Pradesh).

“They had announced that 700 rallies will be organised to counter our protests, where we had appealed to the CM to cancel his Karnal rally. Similarly, Kurukshetr­a MP Naib Saini also faced the ire a few days back in Kaithal. Protests will get extreme in the coming days. We might again gherao the residence and public rallies by BJP leaders.”

At Ambala’s Shambhu toll plaza, Charuni said this is a “dharamyudh” to save lives of citizens dying of starvation. He appealed the people to vote for any leader except those who are not a part of their protest.

“They’ve tried to cause violence in the name of religion and caste. Now, they are trying to attack us and malign the protest,” he said.

 ??  ?? Gurnam Singh Charuni
Gurnam Singh Charuni

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