Centre unwilling to hear farmers, stir to continue: Tikait
JAIPUR: Hitting out at the centre government over the new farm laws, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday said the government is not ready to listen to farmers and has decided to “rob” them.
“The government is not ready to hear us (farmers). Warehouses to store grains were made in advance before these farm laws were passed. This indicates the connivance of big businessmen with government. There is no mention of MSP (minimum support price for crops) in the Act. The big corporates will store the produce of farmers in warehouses and sell it at multi-time higher prices,” said Tikait, while addressing farmer meetings in Churu and Sikar districts.
Calling Rajasthan as the land of fighters Tikait said, “This state has history of fighters like Kumbharam, who had fought against anarchy in past. The farmers of state have fought against discrimination and big agitations have taken place in this state.” He added, “Rajasthan has different
RAKESH TIKAIT, farmer leader
caste equations, but in order to succeed, they (the Union government) have to give birth to a new caste, that is, farmers. During every meeting of farmers, we should not talk about two things; one is politics and another is caste. All the farmers are one and united.”
He said that the farm bills are equally dangerous for farmers and consumers. “The Centre wants to keep the grains and food items in locker. Not only farmers and poor, but every person should become part of this fight. Every youth should connect with us because this is a battle for our land, which government wants to give to big corporates through contract farming and other modes. The market and mandis, which were open for everybody, will be closed because of the farm laws,” Tikait said. “We will travel across the country and this stir will continue for a longer period of time. It took us 90 years to get us freedom. Farmers will continue to fight irrespective of the weather. We will fight in the cold and in extreme hot conditions. It will continue unless a new Act on MSP is made and three acts are rolled back.”
Reacting over Tikait’s allegations, BJP’S chief spokesperson Ramlal Sharma said, “In a democracy everybody has a right to speak and register their protest. Tikait and other opposition parties are misguiding the farmers. They should speak the truth and they should be afraid of god. These farms laws are in the favour of farmers.”