Tikait: Talks only after our people are freed
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday said the farm leaders will hold discussions on the contentious farm laws “only after our people are released from the jail”.
While speaking to ANI, he said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the initiative for a result, the farmers will respect it.
“There won’t be any agreement under pressure. We will hold discussions on the issue. Prime Minister is ours also, we are thankful for his initiative, we will respect it. We want our people to be released,” Tikait said.
Talking about the Red Fort violence on Republic Day, Tikait said that the matter has to be
investigated fairly.
PM Modi had on Saturday said that the government’s proposal to farmers on suspending the three farm laws for 18 months still stands.
Meanwhile, the ripples of
farmers’ protest against the new agri laws on Delhi’s borders spread further in western Uttar Pradesh with thousands of people converging for a “mahapanchayat” on Sunday in Baghpat,
the third such congregation in the region in as many days.
The “sarv khap mahapanchayat” took place at the Tehsil ground here with farmers pouring in from nearby districts as well in tractor-trollies, many of which are decked up with music systems, the tricolor and farmer unions’ flags.
Earlier, massive congregations were held in Muzaffarnagar on Friday and in Mathura on Saturday, both resolving to support the ongoing BKU-led protest at the Ghazipur border against the three new farm laws.
BKU leader Rajendra Chaudhary told the crowd, “the movement has to be continued with full strength.”
In the Capital, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal reiterated his support to the protesting farmers and said he will offer any help possible to them.
Responding to a tweet by farmer leader Naresh Tikait, Kejriwal said,”Naresh ji. You people are struggling so much. I will help in every way through my party and my government.”
Tikait in a tweet had earlier thanked Kejriwal for providing basic facilities at the Gazipur protest site.
“@ArvindKejriwal Thank you for providing basic facilities to the farmers at the #GhazipurProtest site,” Tikait wrote.
Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the 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.
The farmers’ stir appeared to be going on the backfoot following the January 26 incident, when a section of rampaging protesters stormed the Red Fort, installed religious flags on its domes and clashed with police there as well as a few others places on the Capital.
The events of the day left around 400 police personnel injured.
However, the movement regained strength starting Tuesday evening after droves of people, driven by Rakesh Tikait’s emotional appeal on camera, started making their way from several Western UP districts to the Ghazipur border.
Sons of legendary farm leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, fondly referred to as Baba Tikait, the Tikait brothers have considerable influence in the region.
IN THE CAPITAL, CM ARVIND KEJRIWAL REITERATED HIS SUPPORT TO THE PROTESTING FARMERS AND SAID HE WILL OFFER ANY HELP POSSIBLE TO THEM