Farmers Movement Archive

Naresh Tikait wants Rajnath Singh as mediator in farm talks

AYODHYA: Bharatiya Kisan Union president Naresh Tikait, who spearheaded the agitation against the new farm laws at the UP-Delhi border, stopped by Ayodhya on Thursday and offered prayers at Ramjanmabhoomi. Calling himself a descendant of Lord Ram, he said, “Protests won’t cease till the Centre repeals farm laws and withdraws cases against farmers. Now, we are proceeding to poll-bound Bengal to tell voters about the anti-people policies of BJP.” Tikait, who vowed to take the agitation to eastern UP that was largely untouched by the farm unrest, addressed a farmers’ rally at Satrikh village in Barabanki, before moving to neighbouring Munderwa in Basti district, where he reached out to farmers of Purvanchal on Thursday. Terming defence minister Rajnath Singh a caged parrot, he said the farmers' issue could have been swiftly resolved if Singh was given the go-ahead to negotiate with farm leaders. At the rally in Basti, he sought Rajnath’s role in future mediation with farm leaders. “BJP sarkar ne Rajnath ji ko pinjre ka tota bana diya hai. (The government has turned Rajnath Singh into a caged parrot). I can guarantee an outcome if Singh, who is sympathetic towards farmers, is appointed mediator. And this would-be a saving grace for BJP,” he said. Addressing a rally at Munderwa village, he said, Supreme Court’s directive is clear that cane farmers must be paid within 14 days, but the rule is being flouted. He also accused the Centre of being stubborn on the farm laws.

The Times of India

2021-02-26

Lucknow