Farmers Movement Archive

revised‘BJP and its associates want to sell off the entire nation’

Three days after the Haryana assembly passed Haryana Fair Compensation of Land Acquisition, Relief and Rehabilitation (Amendment) Bill, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait) spokesperson and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) member Rakesh Tikait on Friday said the Union and Haryana governments are bent upon selling off precious land to their own men. Speaking to Manvir Saini, Tikait elaborated upon SKM’s plans on several issues. What is your (SKM) reaction to the Bill related to amendment in fair compensation, relief and rehabilitation for land acquisition? They (Union and state governments) are identifying the best land and the BJP and its associates want to sell off the entire nation. BJP leaders will prepare project reports and the government would make land available to them. But we, as SKM, have an agenda to defend (our lands) strongly. Farmers will stand there to protect their lands with lathis. You have given the slogan of Operation Uttar Pradesh Fateh. How it is different from Mission Punjab, a slogan given by Gurnam Singh Charuni? SKM has given liberty to all its leaders to speak freely and to speak their mind. Everybody is working in tandem under the banner of SKM. And for the cause of farmers, he (Charuni) is doing his bit. As far as invitation is concerned, we have invited all. What turnout is expected from Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh for Muzaffarnagar rally? What are your plans for Uttar Pradesh election? I really have no idea. But, yes there would be an unprecedented turnout of farmers at the venue on the day. As far as focus is concerned, it would be MSP, withdrawal of the three ‘black laws’, release of sugarcane payment, loan waiver and other issues related to farmers. Besides, we shall also decide the further course of action regarding farmers’ agitation. Rest, let the model code of conduct come into place for the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, we shall let you know about our plans. As the agitation is growing old, dissent too is coming out against SKM. Recently you barred four farmer leaders in Tikri from participation in meetings of the morcha. We are going very strong. We have zero tolerance for those who violate the law of the land or speak against the Constitution. We don’t encourage individual opinions which could hurt the feelings of national patriots. That is why we have placed them under suspension and shall continue to take similar action. You coined a term Sarkaari Talibaani for government? What does that mean? They (government) coined words Khalistanti and Pakistani for us, especially for farmers from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Hence, we coined the term ‘Sarkaari Talibaani’, as they want to rule and occupy the country at gunpoint. If they are feeling bad now, they would realise how bad we must have felt (when called Khalistani and Pakistani). Let them have a relook into their allegations when they accuse us of getting foreign funding and calling us anti-nationals. Haryana government has started summoning farmers who have been named in farm agitation related 136 FIRs registered in the state. In all, 4.5 lakh people across the country have been served notices by various agencies across the country for participating in the farmers’ agitation. Such moves hardly deter the ongoing agitation. A lot of sacrifices have been made in these agitations against the Centre’s three contentious laws. Those who are afraid of action should not come. The agitation will go on. How long will the agitation continue? We have already said that the agitation will go on till the government withdraws the three laws and provides MSP security for farmers’ produce. If they don’t do it, we can continue this agitation for years now. We are in no hurry to return (from protest sites). All this is up to the government. Box Punjab farmers invited to mahapanchayat Rakesh Tikait, who addressed the rally attended by Punjab and Chandigarh farmers, along with BKU (Lakhowal) president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal and BKU (Haryana) president Rattan Mann, invited them all for the Rashtriya Kisan Mahapanachayat to be held at Muzzaffarnagar on September 5.

The Times of India

2021-08-28

Chandigarh