Farmers Movement Archive

Rakesh Tikait, after a lot of suspense, doesn’t show up at Yavatmal

NAGPUR/WARDHA: The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha’s first rally in Maharashtra planned on Saturday remained a low-key affair, despite all the suspense. Earlier, the organizers announced that Morcha’s leader Rakesh Tikait had cancelled his visit, but later claimed that he had secretly reached Yavatmal from Delhi, dodging the sleuths. The purpose of the rally was to show that the farmers’ protest was not limited to north India. Tikait, who was set to make an appearance at Yavatmal, did not turn up. Finally, a rally was held only in Wardha with 500 to 600 farmers in attendance. Leaders from Delhi, including Amanjit Singh and Tejbir Singh, had said the agitation would have major political repercussions. Tikait is at the forefront of protests at the Delhi border. Earlier, organizers had claimed over a lakh farmers would attend the rally at Yavatmal, but it was denied permission due to Covid. Later, an application for a rally with 50 persons was moved, which too was rejected. The drama over Tikait’s visit began after that. On Friday, the organizers said there was a fake call in the name of Yavatmal superintendent of police (SP), warning Tikait of being quarantined if he came to Yavatmal. “He cancelled the trip after that,” said Sandeep Gidde-Patil from the Morcha’s state unit. Later, an audio clip also did rounds in which a person addressed as Gidde-Patil said chief minister Uddhav Thackrey had personally requested Tikait to cancel the trip considering the rising cases of Covid. As the protesters reached Wardha on Saturday, they claimed that Tikait would be there at Yavatmal. At the same time, Tikait told TOI over phone that he had could not come because the flight itself was cancelled. He was supposed to be coming by the 8:35am flight. “The airlines could have made alternate arrangement but did not. It seems to be a deliberate attempt to prevent my trip,” he said. Tikait also confirmed of having got a phone call but denied of Thackrey talking to him. The organizers here maintained that Tikait would reach Yavatmal or at the Wardha border. Locals told TOI that over 500 strong police force was deployed at the border to prevent entry of protesters. Restrictions have been imposed in Yavatmal district due to Covid. The protesters, who were in 5- 6 vehicles managed to dodge the cops and reached venue at Yavatmal, but without Tikait. Gidde-Patil then claimed that they had lost contact with Tikait, “who had driven down to Yavatmal instead of taking a flight from Delhi.” The SP Yavatmal Dilip Bhujbal told TOI that protesters have been detained. Out of the 29 activists who have been detained, chief organizer Sikander Shaha is from Yavatmal while all others are from different parts of the country. Three are from Panjab and Haryana. Others are from Nagpur and Wardha. They had reached the main venue of Azad Maidan. The police were in process of filing FIR against all, including Shaha, Sandeep Gidde-Patil of Amravati and Shreekant Tharal of Sangli. SDPO of Yavatmal Madhuri Baviskar said the action was taken on orders of the district magistrate.

The Times of India

2021-02-21

Nagpur