Farmers Movement Archive

Rakesh Tikait to address five kisan mahapanchayats in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Farmer leader and Samyunkt Kisan Morcha member Himmat Singh on Saturday said that Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait will be attending five Kisan Mahapanchayats, in support of farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s farm laws, in the state from February 22 to 26. The mahapanchayats will be held in Hanumangarh, Churu, Karauli and Ganganagar districts. On February 22, Tikait will be attending a mahapanchayat at Nohar in Hanumangarh and on February 23, he will be attending mahapanchayats in Churu (Sardarshahar) and Sikar. On February 25, he will address a mahapanchayat at Kariri village in Todabhim (Karauli) and on February 26, he will be addressing a mahapanchayat at Padampur Mandi in Ganganagar. On 23 February, ‘Pagdi Sambhal Divas’ will also be celebrated across the country, read a morcha statement. A batch of farmers from Karauli district reached Alwar’s Shahjahanpur border on Saturday to extend their support to the farmers’ agitation. The farmers performed “Kanhaiya Dangal” at the protest site and also started building thatched huts looking at the change in the weather. Kisan Mahapanchayat leader Rampal Jat on Saturday staged a demonstration outside Sawai Madhopur district headquarters demanding legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for the purchase of agricultural produce. Jat on Friday expressed his objection to the remarks made by Tikait, who said, “The farmers would burn their crops if they were forced to return (for crop harvesting).” Slamming the leader, Jat said the leaders of the farmers’ agitation must “exercise restraint and should not make such irresponsible statements”. He also said one should not try to “imitate Sir Chhotu Ram”, who was a peasant leader during the British rule in India.

The Times of India

2021-02-21

Jaipur