Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers gear up for Tikait’s proposed rally in Rudrapur on March 1

RUDRAPUR: The farmers of the Terai region — also known as rice bowl of Uttarakhand — are gearing up for the rally proposed on March 1, against the Centre’s agri reform laws, in Rudrapur. Expecting more than 40,000 farmers to be present in the rally, the farmers have changed the rally venue from Gandhi Park to the ground in front of the Food Corporation of India warehouses at Kichha bypass in the city. Bharatiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait will be the keynote speaker at the rally and other prominent farmer leaders are also expected to be present on the occasion. Talking to TOI, Tejender Singh Virk, president of the Terai Kisan Mahasabha (TKM), said they have been holding meetings for the success of the rally for the past 15 days. “As many as 200 volunteers of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) visited the towns and the villages of the Terai region to garner support for the rally and also spread awareness against the three draconian agri reform laws. Political parties other than the BJP have also extended their support to the rally,” added Virk. In a similar vein, Karm Singh Padda, state president of the BKU, said, “Locals started calling this ground Modi Maidan after the Prime Minister's rally here in 2017. After our rally, they will start calling it the Kisan Maidan. Our rally will record a massive turnout. Farmer leaders Darshan Pal and Gurnam Singh Chaduni will also address the rally.” He added that farmers of the country are being persecuted for the sake of a few industrialists. Meanwhile, former Congress minister, Tilak Raj Behar, said that the workers of the Kisan Congress will also join the rally in large numbers.

The Times of India

2021-02-28

Dehradun