Farmers Movement Archive

Tikait threatens agitation in Gujarat

Ahmedabad/Vadodara/Surat: Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday threatened to start a farmers’ tractor agitation in Gujarat after Delhi, and said time has come to gherao Gandhinagar and also break barricades if needed.“Farmers will conduct agitation in Gujarat using their tractors. Time has come to gherao Gandhinagar and block roads. If needed, we will have to break barricades too,” Tikait said after his visit to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Monday. He was accompanied by former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela.Tikait claimed farmers in Gujarat were unhappy and suffering. “Farmers are suffering because there is no agitation here. There is no backing from courts also. Farmers are compelled to say they are happy and making a profit. Please give us that technology which is helping Gujarat’s farmers to reap benefits,” he said.He claimed that farmers of Banaskantha are compelled to sell potatoes for Rs 3 per kilogram. “Is that enough to make farmers happy? We have come here to remove fear from the minds of farmers. We will agitate in a peaceful manner,” Tikait said. Later, Tikait and Vaghela reached Karamsad town in Anand and paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at his native place.The farmers union leader then visited a Gurudwara in Chhani area of Vadodara on Monday afternoon in presence of senior Congress leaders like Chandrakant Srivastava, Sagar Brahmbhatt, Narendra Ravat and Ami Ravat. Tikait urged the milk famers in Gujarat to protest against the government. “An agreement is happening from outside for supply of milk and it will finish Amul. Milk farmers here should protest against it,” he said.Later while addressing a rally in Kedareshwar Temple at Bardoli, Tikait said, “This is the land of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who fought for farmers’ rights during the freedom struggle. I call upon farmers here to fight for their rights and join the national protests against the central government.”He alleged that the government is run by corporates. “Farmers’ land is being taken away by the government in Gujarat and those who protest against it are being jailed. Now, it’s time to unite against the anti-farmer government. Farmers from Sardar Patel’s land should hoist their flag on their tractors and support the ongoing agitation in New Delhi,” Tikait said.Hundreds of farmers turned up at the rally that was held at Kedareshwar temple campus in Bardoli. The BKU leader was on a two-day tour of Gujarat since Sunday to campaign against the Centre’s three farm laws.

The Times of India

2021-04-06

Vadodara