Farmers Movement Archive

After Tikait’s appeal, faction with considerable mass base in Braj region joins hands with him

AGRA: After Rakesh Tikait's impassioned appeal at the Ghazipur border on Friday, a group of Bhartiya Kisan Union, called the Bhanu faction, which has a considerable support base among farmers in the Braj region, has come out in support of Tikait. Going against the leadership, the faction’s national general secretary, Kuldeep Pandey, has declared support for Rakesh Tikait and decided to resume protest against the three farm laws. On Saturday, hundreds of members defied BKU (Bhanu) national president Bhanu Pratap Singh’s decision to withdraw from protests at Delhi’s Chilla border after the R-Day tractor rally violence and reached the Ghazipur border to join hands with Rakesh Tikait. Talking to TOI, Kuldeep Pandey said, “To withdraw from the protest at Chilla border was a personal decision of Bhanu Pratap Singh. Majority of the workers were not in favour of it. The incident of Rakesh Tikait breaking down at the Ghazipur border resulted in a massive discontent among farmers and our members. I have decided to part my ways with BKU (Bhanu). The leadership of the organization is hand in glove with the government. They have lost all respect among farmers.” “I have called for a kisan mahapanchayat in Kasganj on February 5. Here, leaders of the BKU (Bhanu) faction will tender mass resignation. We will be marching to the Ghazipur border in large numbers to support Rakesh Tikait. The central government will have to take back the three farm laws and guarantee MSP for the farmers,” he said. Meanwhile, BKU (Bhanu) spokesperson Upendra Pal Singh said, “The decision to withdraw from the protest at the Chilla border was taken after violence during the tractor parade. Union leaders present at the protest site were consulted before taking the decision. During the meeting on Saturday, discussions were held on ways to take the farmers’ protest forward in a peaceful way. Union workers have been directed to go to villages and take feedback from farmers. Workers who are violating the decision to withdraw from the Delhi borders are being identified. Disciplinary action will be taken against them.”

The Times of India

2021-01-31

Agra