Centre wants to destroy farmers and turn them into daily wagers: Tikait
DEHRADUN/RUDRAPUR/HARIDWAR/HALDWANI: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait who has been at the forefront of the farmers agitation, lashed out at the Centre, accusing it of ‘trying to destroy the farmers with the three farm laws and turn them into daily wagers in the factories of the Industrialists’ near Dehradun on Friday.
Tikait was addressing a gathering of farmers at Kisan Mahapanchayat, organised by Sanyukta Kisan Morcha in Herbertpur area, about 35km from Dehradun, amid the Bharat Bandh called by the farmers’ organisations.
Attacking the BJP led Central government, Tikait said, “The three farms laws brought by them is nothing but an attempt to destroy the farmers and then turn them into daily wagers working at minimum wage in the factories of the industrialists.”
“The laws are a gateway to the capitalists and industrialists to the capture the farms under the garb of contract farming,” said Tikait adding, “The year 2021 is not for sleeping but for a united fight by farmers and common man against the government which is hell bent on selling everything to its capitalists friends.”
Earlier in the day, no major impact was witnessed in Uttarakhand on Bharat Bandh call, barring US Nagar district where farmers held a rally.
In US Nagar, which has been the majorly impacted district by the farmers agitation, the shops were closed till afternoon. The farmers had also held a protest rally in support of the bandh.
In Kashipur town, which has a significant Sikh population, farmers tried to block a highway but police stopped them to ensure smooth traffic.
Adesh Chauhan, Congress MLA of Jaspur in US Nagar led a procession of party workers in support of the band and attacked the government for bringing the “black” farm laws.
He said, “Modi government will have to suffer for the negligence towards farmers’ demand. His arrogance will take him down as he is unable to see the strength of farmers. The Congress had been supporting the farmers and will continue to do so.”
In the other major districts including Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital, the markets remained opened with almost no impact of the Bandh.
In Haridwar, the farmers in Roorkee , Narsain , Khanpur ,Laksar ,Landaura , Bhagwanpur and Iqbalpur held a sit-in protest.
They later handed a memorandum to city magistrate demanding repealing of three farm laws.
Nainital also hardly witnessed any impact with shops in both hilly and plain areas opened throughout the day mainly due to Holi.
Naveen Verma, state president of the Prantiya Udhyog Vyapar Pratinidhi Mandal in Haldwani said, “Our organization is in support of the farmers. Both the merchant and the farmer complement each other but all traders are free to participate in Bharat Bandh.”
The BJP, however, defended the three farm laws and said, “The farmers are being misled by the Opposition parties on the same.”