Muzaffarnagar (UP): As farmers’ protest continued in different parts of the country, Farmer leader and National Spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union Rakesh Tikait spoke to ANI on February 21 in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. In his special interaction with ANI, he spoke about the ongoing farmers’ protests in various corners of the country and their demands.
Tag: Rakesh Tikait
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Nothing can be more insulting: Congress on minister’s continuation on 1st anniversary of Lakhimpur Kheri violence
By PTI
NEW DELHI: On the first anniversary of Lakhimpur Kheri violence, the Congress on Monday attacked the Modi government over the continuation of Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ as a minister as it cited the alleged involvement of his son in mowing down of farmers protesting against the three farm laws that have now been repealed.
“Nothing can be more insulting that the farmers agitating against the black laws were deliberately killed while the culprit remains a member of the Union council of ministers,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told reporters.
There was clear evidence that the minister’s son was involved in the killing, he alleged.
Mishra’s son Ashish Misra was arrested in the case after four farmers were crushed under the wheels of a convoy of cars and four others, including two BJP workers, were killed in apparently retaliatory violence.
The Congress also reiterated its support to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which had spearheaded the farmers’ agitation against three farm laws, especially its demand for a legal guarantee to the minimum support price for farm produce.
Bowing to the protests, the government had scrapped the laws.
ALSO READ | How long will PM continue to save tainted ministers: Priyanka on Ajay Mishra’s remarks on farm leader
NEW DELHI: On the first anniversary of Lakhimpur Kheri violence, the Congress on Monday attacked the Modi government over the continuation of Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ as a minister as it cited the alleged involvement of his son in mowing down of farmers protesting against the three farm laws that have now been repealed.
“Nothing can be more insulting that the farmers agitating against the black laws were deliberately killed while the culprit remains a member of the Union council of ministers,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told reporters.
There was clear evidence that the minister’s son was involved in the killing, he alleged.
Mishra’s son Ashish Misra was arrested in the case after four farmers were crushed under the wheels of a convoy of cars and four others, including two BJP workers, were killed in apparently retaliatory violence.
The Congress also reiterated its support to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which had spearheaded the farmers’ agitation against three farm laws, especially its demand for a legal guarantee to the minimum support price for farm produce.
Bowing to the protests, the government had scrapped the laws.
ALSO READ | How long will PM continue to save tainted ministers: Priyanka on Ajay Mishra’s remarks on farm leader
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BJP wants to rule entire country, weakening all political parties using ‘money power’: Tikait
“The entire opposition should come out onto the streets. Or else, in the coming days, all movements and political parties will be banned and closed down,” Tikait said.
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Farm organisations hold protests against ink attack on Rakesh Tikait, supporters demand Z-plus security
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Farm organisations across the country on Tuesday staged protests against the attack on farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha has said.
Miscreants on Monday threw ink on Tikait during an event organised by a farmers’ organisation in Bengaluru following which three people were arrested for the attack.
Demonstrations were held in several states as the protesting farmers demanded strict action against the culprits and an inquiry into the incident, the SKM said.
“According the available reports, protests were held in Delhi, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and other states,” the statement said.
In Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) workers and functionaries staged a protest at the district headquarters in Ghaziabad and demanded Z-plus category security for Tikait.
A memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi was handed over to city magistrate Gambhir Singh in which they stated that at time of the incident, policemen were present there, which shows that BJP workers had carried out this act.
In Karnataka, farm organisations held protests in Bengaluru, Chikkaballapura, Chamarajanagar, Sagar, among several other places, it said.
SKM has reiterates its demand of strict punishment for the culprits, suspension of officers guilty of negligence, judicial inquiry into the incident and security to Tikait, the statement said.
“Prime accused Bharat Shetty has been pictured with several BJP leaders, including former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddiyurappa,” the SKM said.
The attackers were raising slogans of “Jai Modi (prime minister)” and “Modi, Modi”, it further claimed.
Tikait had on Monday alleged that the ink attack on him was in connivance with the state government.
“The local police is responsible for it and it happened due to the connivance of the government,” Tikait had told reporters.
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Rakesh Tikait attacked, ink smeared on his face by three in Bengaluru
Express News Service
BENGALURU: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait was attacked by three people at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru on Monday when he was about to address a press conference. The three accused smeared the farmer leader’s face with black ink and tried to hit him with a mic.
The trio, who have been arrested, reportedly told the police that they were upset with Tikait and others for not talking in Kannada and also for attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their speeches.The arrested have been identified as Bharath Shetty, Pradeep and Shivakumar, members of Karnataka Sangatanegala Okkoota.
At around 11 am, Tikait, along with other leaders was at Gandhi Bhavan to take part in an event, ‘Farmer’s Movement: Introspection and Clarification’ over allegations against state farmer leader Kodihalli Chandrashekar that he took bribes to end farmers’ protests on Delhi border.
When Kavitha Kuragunti, a woman farmer leader was speaking in Telugu, a group of people demanded that she speak in Kannada. In the melee, the three accused charged at Tikait and splashed ink on his face and tried to hit him on the head with a mic. Tikait however protected himself by holding the mic with his hand. High drama prevailed at the venue as it led to a clash between two groups who indulged in throwing plastic chairs at each other.
No security provided by police, says farmer leaderAnother BKU leader Yudhvir Singh, who was sitting next to Tikait, was also smeared with black ink. The High Grounds police rushed to the scene and took the three attackers into custody. Later speaking to reporters, Tikait alleged that the violence was carried out in collusion with the BJP-led government in the state. He said no security was provided by the local police. The police said the accused were produced before a judge following which they taken been into custody for further questioning.
It may be recalled that JDS party workers had made a futile bid to splash ink on Kodihalli Chandrashekhar at the Press Club of Bengaluru on Saturday and the Cubbon Park police had arrested them. Reacting to the incident, State Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said strict action will be taken against the attackers, against whom the police have already booked cases. Jnanendra claimed the accused were not BJP workers and were present at the venue in the guise of journalists.
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Rakesh Tikait launches dharna over arrest of BKU members; calls it off after talks with officials
By PTI
MUZAFFARNAGAR: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait launched a dharna on Tuesday after the arrest of his group members, but called it off later following talks with the district authorities here on Tuesday.
Ten activists of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) were arrested after a clash at the district hospital here on Monday night.
Protesting at the Kotwali police station here since Tuesday morning, Tikait demanded their immediate release, alleging that they had been falsely implicated in the case.
Later in the day, he withdrew the dharna after Additional District Magistrate Narendra Bahadur Singh and Superintendent of Police (City) Arpit Vijayvargiya reached the spot and requested him to call it off.
Meanwhile, the police produced the 10 arrested people to court, following which Chief Judicial Magistrate Manoj Kumar Jatav sent them to 14 days of judicial custody.
According to medical officer of the district hospital, Dr Baburam, people belonging to two groups had arrived at the facility on Monday.
While one group was being medically examined, the BKU activists began demanding the examination of the other group, leading to a clash, Dr Baburam said.
Tikait, who is also the BKU’s national spokesperson, told reporters that the district authorities wanted to suppress his outfit by falsely implicating the activists.
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‘People’s decision paramount, hope governments work for farmers’: Rakesh Tikait on assembly polls results
By PTI
NOIDA: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said the decision of people is paramount as he hoped the new governments in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand will work for farmers and labourers.
The remark of the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) came late on Thursday after the BJP won majority seats in four states, including Uttar Pradesh, while the Aam Aadmi Party stormed to power in Punjab.
“In the great festival of democracy, the decision of the people is paramount. The farmers’ movement showed its effect. We hope that all the governments that have been formed will work for to uplift farmers and labourers in their respective states. Congratulations to all on the victory,” Tikait tweeted in Hindi.
Tikait’s BKU was part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers unions which had spearheaded the 13-month-long protest in Delhi in 2020-21 against three contentious farm laws, which now stand repealed.
In the aftermath of the iconic protests, the SKM had launched a “punish BJP” campaign in Uttar Pradesh, where farmer leaders toured several places and highlighted the anti-agriculture policies of the saffron party and issues like inflation, alleged corruption and the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which a Union minister’s son is among the accused.
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2024 elections in mind, KCR meets Swamy, Tikait in Delhi
By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has stepped up his efforts to unite Opposition parties to take on the BJP in 2024 General Elections. On Thursday, he met BJP MP Subramanian Swamy and Bhartiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait over lunch in Delhi.
Rao has been camping in the national capital for the last two days along with his daughter and senior party leader K Kavitha, Minister V Srinivas Goud, MP J Santosh Kumar and State Planning Board Vice-Chairman Vinod Kumar. Tikait told the media later that he had discussed farmers’ issues and various welfare schemes for farmers in Telangana.
“There was no discussion on politics. It was purely related to the welfare of farmers. Rao is willing to give compensation to families of farmers who were martyred during the Kisan Movement. He also told us about various other schemes run by the state government like free power for agriculture. I will be meeting CMs of States to introduce similar relief for cultivators,” he said.
However, Swamy couldn’t be reached for the comment. According to the individuals privy to the matter, Rao is likely to meet with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to talk about possible alliance of parties. After the meeting, Kavitha posted two separate videos of Swamy and Tikait arriving at Rao’s residence in Delhi.“Rajya Sabha member and noted Economist Subramanian Swamy met with Telangana CM KCR Garu in New Delhi today,” said her tweet.
The development came after his visit to Mumbai last month where he held a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Rao had already had discussions with West Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin.
Rao may soon meet with other opposition leaders including Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and Janata Dal (secular) president and Rajya Sabha MP HD Deve Gowda.Rao has been critical of the BJP and the Centre on a number of issues and had announced plans to unite various political parties against the BJP government.
It may be recalled here that in November 2021, Rao announced Rs 3 lakh to the kin of each of the around 750 farmers who died during the agitation against the Centre’s farm laws. Rao announced a total of Rs 22.50 crore solatium.
Tikait later tweeted: “The Telangana government will soon organise a programme and provide financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to the families of the martyrs of the farmers’ movement. But, the Central government is playing a hide and seek game with the farmers”.
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Rakesh Tikait urges people to camp near counting centres in UP, claims irregularities can take place
By PTI
BAGHPAT: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday urged people to come on tractors and camp near counting centres in Uttar Pradesh, claiming “irregularities” could take place.
Counting of votes for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will take place on March 10.
“What was done in the zila panchayat (elections) cannot be ignored. Reach the counting centres a day before the counting is taken up and camp with tractors at the counting sites from March 9 itself,” Tikait told reporters in Baraut in Baghpat.
He also asked people to reach with beddings a day ahead as they will not be allowed to go there on March 10.
During the zila panchayat polls held in the state last year, opposition parties had alleged large scale irregularities.
Attacking the government, Tikait said that the dues of sugarcane farmers in this area had not been paid for a year but in view of elections, pending payments were cleared in 10 to 15 days.
“I mean, the government can get payments made whenever it wants. If elections are held every year, then payment of sugarcane (farmers) can also be made every year,” he said.
Slamming the BJP government at the Centre, he said it is looking for votes even in the Ukrainian crisis by making students returning from there give statements on the evacuation operation.
“Those who give statements in favour of the government are being shown and those who are telling the reality are not being shown. The elections are more important for the Indian government, are children of India not dear to them. (They are) Looking for votes in a war,” Tikait alleged.
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Vote for farmers, not NOTA: Tikait brothers’ pre-poll appeal ahead of UP elections
By PTI
NOIDA: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Naresh Tikait and its spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday appealed to people to vote on farmers’ issues during the first phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, beginning Thursday.
Elections will be held in 58 assembly seats across 11 districts of western Uttar Pradesh, where the BKU, an influential farmers’ union of north India, holds a considerable sway among the farming community.
“Not NOTA, but vote in the elections and hit the issues of farmers, I will be voting along with my family at 2 PM in Sisauli, you too join the mahayagya of democracy,” Naresh Tikait tweeted in Hindi.
His younger brother Rakesh Tikait also put out a similar tweet except his polling booth is in Muzaffarnagar city and not in their ancestral village of Sisauli.
Sisauli, the headquarters of the BKU, is in Muzaffarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh.
The BKU is part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which had spearheaded the agitation against the now-repealed three central farm laws for over a year from November 2020.
Rakesh Tikait, the spokesperson of the BKU, had emerged as a prominent face of the agitation and credited with reviving the agitation which had started waning post January 26, 2021 violence in Delhi.
The Tikait brothers’ remark to “vote for farmers’ issues” assumes significance amid a much-talked about anti-BJP feeling in parts of western Uttar Pradesh in the wake of the farmers’ agitation during which over 700 people are claimed to have lost their lives.
Naresh and Rakesh Tikait are sons of legendary farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait.
Naresh Tikait is also the head of the Balyan Khap.