Farmers Movement Archive

A movement to liberate farmers, Guj people: Tikat

Jaipur: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, while addressing a kisan mahapanchayat at Alwar district’s Jhalatala village in Lachhmangarh area, said, “The farmers’ movement was a struggle to achieve their freedom and liberation of Gujarat people who are tied by different forms of bondage.” He said farmers’ agitation would continue till legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) was ensured and the farms laws were withdrawn. Tikait made this remark in a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who belonged to the state of Gujarat. Coining a fresh slogan for the movement, Tikait said, “The slogan of the movement will be ‘Humhi Kisan Hai, Humhi Jawaan Hai’ (We are the farmers, we are the soldiers)”.“This is a movement to ensure farmers’ freedom…Gujarat, too, has to be liberated. The people of Gujarat are still tied by different forms of bondage. Gujarat is cut off from the rest of the world. Farmers and the people there are in a state of fear, and nobody can communicate with them. The farmers are being intimidated by state police if they board a train to participate inthe protest in Delhi. We will go to Gujarat to liberate them from all forms of bondage,” said Tikait.“After Rajasthan, the next meeting will be held in Gujarat. The central government is trying to break this movement, but this will continue till the three farm laws are withdrawn,” he added.Tikait further said this movement was dedicated to the poor of this country. “This movement is fought to ensure foodgrains are not stored in the chests. We will not allow people’s bread (roti) to be hoarded. This movement will continue until a law is enacted to ensure MSP for crops. The government will have to concede (to their demands). This movement is for the farmers of the whole country and not just one state. The farmers will not bow before anyone.”“This movement belongs to that roadside shopkeeper in a city who sells his goods on credit, this also belongs to that farmer who has no power connection and sells goods at a cheap rate. This belongs to every farmer and labourer. He further said, it has been declared that he holds total assets of Rs 82 crore. “They said, I have 8 petrol pumps. In fact, it is more than that. To assess the valuation of my property, they will have to appoint bank officials, SDMs, tehsildars and patwaris. I have been wrongly accused of indulging in politics. Neither will I contest elections nor have I come to Rajasthan to make a mark for myself,” he said.Meanwhile, a statewide Kisan Adhikar Yatra, under the leadership of Kisan Mahapanchayat leader Rampal Jat, started off from Jaipur on Thursday. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha has also announced that the toll collection at the plazas will not be allowed in Rajasthan from Friday.

The Times of India

2021-02-12

Jaipur