Union minister Sanjeev Balyan meets BKU chief Naresh Tikait

MEERUT : Union minister of state for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying Sanjeev Balyan met Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Naresh Tikait at his residence in Sisauli in Muzaffarnagar district on Monday, less than a month before the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh assembly elections begin on February 10.

Balyan is the BJP MP from Muzaffarnagar. Bhartiya Kisan Union media incharge Dharmendra Malik said it was a courtesy visit by the minister to enquire about Naresh Tikait’s health after he underwent shoulder surgery last week.

Sanjeev Balyan said to the news agency ANI after his meeting, “We are like a family. We keep meeting often. As of now, I came here to know about his health. He is recovering well. We had a good meeting.”

Dharmendra Malik said it was the minister’s first meeting with Naresh Tikait after withdrawal of the farmers’ protest at Delhi borders.

Before this, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary had visited the BKU chief in hospital.

Tikait had sustained a shoulder injury after he slipped in the bathroom last week and was operated upon in a Noida hospital, the BKU media incharge further said.

Balyan remained with Tikait for over half an hour along with a few associates. This courtesy meeting, however, is being seen as a significant move by Balyan who arrived in Sisauli after a long time. At the height of the farmers’ agitation, Naresh Tikait had earlier cautioned BJP leaders against entering Sisauli, the BKU headquarters, and said if they came it would be at their own risk.

The minister interacted with Naresh Tikait a day after the latter blessed three RLD candidates Rajpal Balyan (Budhana), Chandan Chauhan (Meerapur) and Pankaj Malik (Charthawal), who met BKU chief at Sisauli on Saturday and Sunday.

Malik further said Naresh Tikait has clarified that his blessings are for all who visit him but being a member of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), he can’t get involved with any political party or their candidates.

So far, both Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which is the umbrella body of several farmer unions, and BKU has refrained from promoting any political party.