News Analysis India

Tag: Rakesh Tikait

  • Farmers observe Jan 31 as ‘Vishwasghat Diwas’, accuse Centre of betraying them

    By PTI

    JAIPUR/GHAZIABAD: Farmers held protests in different parts of the country on Monday as part of their observance of ‘Vishwasghat Diwas’, accusing the Union government of betraying them over various farm issues.

    The call for a nationwide observance of ‘Betrayal Day’ was given by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday.

    He alleged that the over-year-long agitation of farmers at Delhi’s borders was suspended on basis of a letter given by the government on December 9, but those promises have not been fulfilled.

    In Rajasthan, farmers held protests at several district headquarters and major towns, including Jaipur.

    Farmers held a demonstration at Shaheed Smarak in the state capital and burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    In Sikar, former CPI(M) MLA and farmer leader Amra Ram led the protest and accused the Union government of not taking any step following the “agreement” with the farmers.

    In Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, farmers gathered at the local collectorate and handed over a memorandum to the administration, BKU’s district president Bijendra Singh told PTI.

    ALSO READ: Rakesh Tikait slams Modi government says farmers would observe ‘Betrayal Day’ on Monday

    Addressing the protesters, he said the government has not yet fulfilled various demands of the farmers, including about minimum support price for crops even though their protest was suspended over a month ago.

    The cases lodged against agitating farmers have not been withdrawn and the Uttar Pradesh government was not paying attention to the demand of martyr status to farmers who died during the agitation, Singh added.

    The protest on Delhi’s borders had started under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a farmers’ collective, in November 2020 over the main demands of withdrawal of three contentious farm laws that were introduced by the BJP-led Centre.

    The farmers, who occupied key border points of Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur for over a year, also demanded a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) of crops.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in November 2021 announced that the contentious farm laws would be rolled back, leading to the protestors eventually vacating Delhi borders in December.

  • Rakesh Tikait slams Modi government, says farmers would observe ‘Betrayal Day’ on Monday

    By PTI

    NOIDA: Alleging betrayal by the Centre, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday announced a country-wide observance of “Betrayal Day” on Monday over farm issues.

    The national spokesperson of the influential north Indian farmers’ union claimed the over-a-year-long protest at Delhi’s borders was withdrawn on the basis of a letter of promises by the government on December 9 but those remain unfulfilled.

    “A nation-wide ‘Betrayal Day’ will be observed on January 31 because of government’s betrayal to farmers. The movement was suspended on the basis of a letter given by the government on December 9 but those promises have not been fulfilled,” Tikait, whose BKU is a part of the SKM, said in a tweet in Hindi.

    The protest on Delhi’s borders had started under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a farmers’ collective, in November 2020 over the main demands of withdrawal of three contentious farm laws that were introduced by the BJP-led Centre.

    The farmers, who occupied key border points of Singhu , Tikri and Ghazipur for over a year, also demanded a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) of crops.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in November 2021 announced that the contentious farm laws would be rolled back, leading to the protestors eventually vacating Delhi borders in December.

  • Uttar Pradesh elections: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait warns farmers on attempts to ‘polarise’ society

    By PTI

    ALIGARH: Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait has warned farmers from attempts to “polarise” society and divert their attention by vested interests who will rake up “Hindu-Muslim” issues.

    Tikait who was speaking to media persons while attending a private function near Iglas on Sunday night also said that farmers are” fully conscious” of the critical importance of their choice in the forthcoming assembly elections and do not need any prompting. “In the next few weeks Hindu-Muslim and Jinnah will be regular topics in the political discourse and you should be wary of such distractions,” the BKU leader said.

    Making a cryptic remark, he said “Hindu-Muslim and Jinnah are going to be official guests in UP till March 15.” When asked about farmers’ voting preferences Tikait said ,”When farmers are being forced to sell their produce at half of their cost price they need no one to prompt them as to how they should vote.”

    Farmers are “fully conscious” of the critical importance of their choice in the forthcoming assembly, he added. Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases between February 10 and March 7 and the results will be announced on March 10.

  • Protest won’t end yet, next decision on November 27: Rakesh Tikait

    By PTI

    GHAZIABAD: The ongoing anti-farm laws protest will not end yet and its future course of action will be decided on November 27, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said on Wednesday.

    The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson said the protestors would also question the Centre on its claims of doubling farmers’ income.

    “This protest will not end yet. We have a meeting on November 27 after which we will take further decisions.

    (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji has said farmers’ income would be doubled from January 1, so will ask him how it would be done. Farmers’ victory will be ensured when they get the right price for their crops,” Tikait tweeted in Hindi.

    Hundreds of farmers have been encamped at Delhi’s borders since November 26, 2020 with a demand that the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

    PM Modi had last week announced his government’s decision to withdraw the contentious laws.

  • Lakhimpur Kheri sugar mills cancel invite to MoS Ajay Mishra Teni

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Taking cognizance of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait’s warning, the management of two cooperative sugar mills in Belrayan and Sampurna Nagar of Kheri district hanged their crushing season-opening programme removing Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni from the inaugural function which was held on Wednesday.

    Tikait, at a mahapanchayat in Lucknow on Monday, had warned that farmers would take their sugarcane meant for two Lakhimpur Kheri sugar mills to the office of the district magistrate if Union minister of state (MoS) Ajay Kumar Mishra Teni inaugurated the mills in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri.

    Teni’s son Ashish Mishra alias Monu is the prime accused in Tikunia violence at Lakhimpur Kheri during which eight persons, including four farmers, were killed on October 3. Ashish Mishra is currently lodged in Lakhimpur Kheri district jail in connection with a violence case.

    ALSO READ | ‘Not going home, government must talk to us on other demands’: Tikait rakes up MSP issue as he demands Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s arrest

    In their revised programme, the general manager/secretary of the two cooperative sugar units said, “Kheri district magistrate, who is also the administrator of the two sugar mills, will inaugurate the crushing season in Sarju Cooperative Sugar Mill in Belrayan at 9 am and at 11 am at Kisan Cooperative Sugar Mill in Sampurna Nagar in the presence of farmers and the shareholders on Wednesday.”

    Earlier, MoS for home Ajay Mishra was scheduled to inaugurate the crushing season at the two sugar units.

    Speaking at the Kisan Mahapanchayat convened by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting farmer unions, in Lucknow on Monday, Tikait had also said, “The arrest of Ajay Mishra Teni is our important demand.”

    Meanwhile, local BJP sources claimed that MoS was already pre-occupied in his pre-scheduled programmes out of district owing to which he was not in a position to inaugurate the fresh crushing season. 

  • UP: Kheri sugar mills change programme, invite DM instead of MoS Ajay Mishra

    By PTI

    LAKHIMPUR KHERI/LUCKNOW: Two sugar mills in Lakhimpur Kheri, which had invited Union minister Ajay Mishra to inaugurate sugarcane crushing season, made changes to their programme on Tuesday apparently after farmer leader Rakesh Tikait’s warning that farmers would keep away from the mills if the MoS attended the function.

    Mishra, the Minister of State (MoS) for Home and an MP from Kheri, is in the eye of the storm over the killing of four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri.

    His son Ashish Misra is in jail in connection with the knocking down of the farmers when they were protesting against the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Ajay Mishra’s native place on October 3.

    Meanwhile, the sugar mills have invited District Magistrate Mahendra Bahadur to inaugurate their events.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Kisan Sahkari Chini Mills Ltd, Sampurna Nagar in Lakhimpur Kheri said, “The sugarcane crushing session of Kisan Sahakari Chini Mills Ltd, Sampurn Nagar in Lakhimpur Kheri will start on November 24 (Wednesday) by District Magistrate Mahendra Bahadur Singh at 11.00 am.”

    Similar statement was issued by Sarju Sahkari Chini Mill Ltd, Belrayan Kheri.

    While addressing the “Kisan Mahapanchayat” in Lucknow on Monday, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Tikait had said, “If Teni (Ajay Mishra) comes to inaugurate the sugar mill, then no sugarcane will be taken to that sugar mill.”

    “Rather, the farmers will take the sugarcane to the office of the district magistrate, no matter how much losses they incur,” he had said.

    Removal of Mishra from the Union cabinet is among the six demands put forth by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farmer unions, to the government for ending the stir after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday announced that the government will repeal the three contentious farm laws.

    Meanwhile, sources close to minister said he had some other engagements and would not be able to attend the events at the two mills on November 24.

    Mishra did not figure in the official photograph issued after the conclusion of the DGP/IGP conference in Lucknow on Sunday which was attended by Modi.

    Earlier, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had written a letter to the prime minister urging him not to share the dais with Mishra at the DGPs conference.

    Meanwhile, the continued stir by farmers despite the withdrawal of the three central farm laws by Prime Minister Narendra Modi defies one’s “comprehension”, Union Minister General (Retd) V K Singh said on Tuesday.

    The minister of state for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation made the observation here while taking stock of the construction of an elevated highway from the Akshardham temple in Delhi to Baghpat.

    The prime minister announced the repeal of the law during the upcoming parliament session, considering the honour of the farmers, said Singh, while also making an appeal to farmers to consider saving their ‘shakh’ (prestige).

    “The continuation of the protests by the farmers is beyond one’s comprehension. The farmers must think of saving their ‘saakh’ (goodwill),” said Singh, during an interaction with reporters here.

    Broaching upon the issue of development under Prime Minister Modi’s rule, he said, “The amount of developmental work done in the BJP regime was never done earlier.”

    “The building of the elevated road from Akshardham to Baghpat will make travel much easier for the people,” he said, adding officials have been instructed to rectify “whatever shortcomings” are there in the prestigious highway project.

    The minister also said in the coming times, more flights will be started from the Hindon airport in Ghaziabad to other places in the country so that the people don’t have to go to Delhi airport to take a flight to their destinations.

  • Ceasefire by government and not farmers, says Rakesh Tikait demanding resumption of talks on MSP and other issues

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday hit out at the government, accusing it of trying to divide the farmers, and said it should talk to them to resolve their issues or else “we are not going away”.

    The farmer leader also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give a clear answer on the demand for a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) that he had “supported” when he was the chief minister.

    “It took one year for us to make them understand. We said our things in our own language but those sitting in shining bungalows in Delhi had another language,” Tikait said, addressing a mahapanchayat called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of the agitating farmer unions, on the MSP issue.

    “They understood in one year that these laws are harmful and took the laws back. They did the right thing by withdrawing the laws but tried to divide farmers by saying that they failed to make some people understand the laws. We are some people,” Tikait said.

    He was referring to Prime Minister Modi’s apology while announcing the decision on Friday to withdraw the three central farm laws against which the SKM was agitating.

    Tikait said that a “sangharsh-vishram” (ceasefire) has been declared by the government and not farmers and that there are many issues before the peasants.

    “The struggle will continue. The government should talk to farmers about the issues related to them or else we are not going to go away. Meetings will be held all over the country and we will tell the people about your work,” he said.

    Talks between the government and the agitating unions over the three farm laws were stalled in January after nearly a dozen rounds of discussions failed to break the deadlock.

    Urging people to join the farmers’ movement, Tikait said, “They will entangle you all in Hindu-Muslim, Hindu-Sikh and Jinnah and will keep selling the country.”

    Despite the climbdown by the government, farmer unions said on Sunday they will continue their agitation till it starts talks with them on their six other demands, including a law guaranteeing MSP and the arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra.

    Tikait said farmers will not get the right rate of their produce by apology but by framing a policy and contested the claim that a committee has been made for MSP.

    He claimed that as chief minister of Gujarat Modi was part of a committee that had suggested to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh that a law guaranteeing MSP was required.

    “The report of this committee is lying in the PMO. There is no new committee required nor the country has more time,” Tikait said.

    “Give a clear answer, the prime minister will have to give a clear answer before the country whether he will accept the suggestion of the committee he was a part of for MSP guarantee law,” he said.

    He also attacked the media saying that since the past three days they have only been questioning the farmers.

    “We have many issues including the one related to the farmers who lost their lives during the agitation,” he said.

    Among the demands made by SKM are, withdrawal of cases against farmers, building a memorial for the protesters who lost their lives during the agitation and withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill.

  • Agitation not limited to three laws, demands of guaranteed MSP still pending: Farmers organisations

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcment to repeal three farm laws, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella organsation of agitating farners, on Friday said it will wait for the announcement to take effect through due parliamentary procedures but also flagged that their other demands are still pending.

    “If this happens, it will be a historic victory of the one year long farmers’ struggle in India. However, nearly 700 farmers have been martyred in this struggle. The central government’s obstinacy is responsible for these avoidable deaths, including the murders at Lakhimpur Kheri,” said the SKM in a joint statement. 

    ALSO READ| ‘Modi government has to bring bill to repeal three agri laws’: Experts

    It further reminded the Prime Minister that the agitation of farmers is not just for the repeal of the three black laws, but also for a statutory guarantee of remunerative prices for all agricultural produce and for all farmers. 

    “This important demand of farmers is still pending. So also is the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill. SKM will take note of all developments, hold its meeting soon and announce further decisions,” it added.

    ALSO READ| ‘Victory of democracy, government withdrew agri laws due to fear of elections’: Opposition hails farmers

    The statement was issued jointly by farm leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Dr Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Charuni, Hannan Mollah, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Shivkumar Sharma ‘Kakkaji’, Yudhvir Singh.

    They SKM was planning to hold a big event on November 26 to mark one year of their protest. It is to be seen if they will continue with it.

    Meanwhile, several opposition leaders slammed PM Modi for the delay in repealing the farm laws.

    “Anyone who believes the government repealed the Farm Laws out of the goodness of its heart is completely mistaken. This government only responds to cold hard numbers – bypoll setback = fuel price reduction. Poor internal polls numbers for Western UP & Punjab = Farm laws repealed” tweeted National Conference leader Omar Abdullah

    Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said: First, bulldoze laws in Parliament. Then face unprecedented protests. Thereafter,  confront election realities in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, particularly. Finally, after much appeal, repeal. Kisan-ity prevails at last! I salute the tenacity of our kisans who did not give up.

    “I welcome the central govt’s move to repeal three farm laws under the immense pressure exerted by protesting farmers and Behen Mayawati ji. BSP salutes the farmers who brought the government of capitalists, tear gas, and UAPA to its knees. I would also like to recognise the sacrifices of the farmers who lost their lives in this long struggle, and promise the farmers of this country that BSP will continue to remain staunchly by their side,” BSP MP Ritesh Pandey said. 

    Asking PM Modi to apologise to farmers for hardships faced by them, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: “Salutes to our farmers and their brave struggle which has led to the repeal of Modi’s three black farm laws. We must not forget the sacrifice of more than 750 farmers who have lost their lives in this struggle. They are our martyrs. The quest for justice for those targeted by the government and its agencies through false cases will continue. The PM must apologise for the hardship and trouble caused by his dictatorial step of farm laws to benefit his crony business partners.” 

  • Do it in Parliament, guarantee MSP: Tikait on PM’s farm laws repeal promise

    By PTI

    GHAZIABAD: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday said the ongoing anti-farm laws protest will be withdrawn only after the three contentious legislations are repealed in Parliament and legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops made.

    The influential farmer leader from western Uttar Pradesh also asked supporters not to engage in celebrations as their “struggle” will continue.

    Tikait, who was in Maharashtra’s Palghar for an event on Friday, took to Twitter soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced repealing the three farm laws, which were at the centre of the farmers’ protest since November 26 last year.

    “The protest will not be withdrawn immediately, we will wait for the day when the farm laws are repealed in Parliament.

    Farmers celebrate in New Delhi after PM #NarendraModi announced that the Centre has decided to repeal all three #FarmLaws.Express video | @parveennegi1. pic.twitter.com/aoeoXEI22R
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 19, 2021
    Along with MSP, the government should talk to farmers on other issues too,” Tikait tweeted in Hindi.

    Addressing the nation on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, the prime minister said the three farm laws were for the benefit of farmers but “we couldn’t convince a section of farmers despite best efforts”.

    The goal of the three farm laws was to empower farmers, especially small farmers, he said. At Palghar, Tikait said the prime minister must get the three laws repealed in Parliament and provide guarantee on MSP.

    “The farmers are not going back home without this. Where we are today (Palghar), crops are not bought at MSP. The issue of MSP is one that affects entire country,” the BKU national spokesperson said.

    He also asked people not to celebrate or distribute sweets now as the “struggle” has to continue.

    “Today we have a meeting of our nine-member team of Samyukt Kisan Morcha scheduled at the Singhu border head office. The final decision will be taken there,” Tikait said.

    The BKU leader said he would return to Delhi border later Friday night and would be at Ghazipur on Saturday.

    In Palghar, Tikait met leaders of the Bhumi Sena – Advisi Kisan Parishad, who have been campaigning for land rights of tribal communities in the state.

    Invoking Birsa Munda, the legendary tribal freedom fighter, Tikait lauded the Bhumisena – Adivasi Ekta Parishad for their support to the ongoing farmers’ protest and for fighting for the cause of tribals at village level.

    Hundreds of farmers have been encamped at Delhi’s borders since November 26, 2020 demanding that the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee MSP for crops.

    The government had so far maintained that the laws are pro-farmer but many from the farming community believed some changes in legislations would leave them at the mercy of corporations.

  • Will stay put until farm laws repealed: BKU’s Rakesh Tikait

    By PTI

    GHAZIABAD: Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the farmers’ protests will continue till the contentious farm laws are not repealed by the Centre.

    Only the repealing of the contentious laws would ensure the end of the protests, the influential farmer leader asserted.

    “The movement will continue across the country until the three black laws are not repealed and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price of crops fixed,” Tikait said in a Hindi tweet.

    “Bill wapsi hi ghar wapsi hai (Withdrawal of the laws will ensure return of farmers to their homes),” he said in the same tweet.

    The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson said the movement is for safeguarding “jal, jungle and zameen” (water, forest and land).

    The BKU is part of farmers collective the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the campaign, particularly the demonstrations at Delhi’s three border points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since November 2020.

    Farmers are demanding that the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020; be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee the minimum support price for crops.

    The Centre, which has held 11 rounds of formal dialogue with farmers, has maintained that the new laws are pro-farmer, while the protesters claim they would be left at the mercy of corporations because of the laws.