Farmers Movement Archive

Rakesh Tikait to meet Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday to talk over farmers' protest

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait is slated to meet West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on June 9 (Wednesday) in Kolkata, news agency ANI reported, citing sources privy to the matter. Tikait will discuss the strategy with Mamata Banerjee to further intensify the ongoing farmers' protest against the new central farm laws, the sources said."Rakesh Tikait will meet chief minister Mamata Banerjee on June 9. He will congratulate her on the massive electoral victory. They will discuss the farmers' protest," sources told ANI.Notably, Tikait had visited West Bengal before the state assembly elections and campaigned for Trinamool Congress (TMC).West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been very much vocal against the new farm laws and gave her support to farmers' protests. Several TMC MPs had visited the Delhi borders where farmers have been protesting since November last year.Since the Covid-19 situation is improving, the farmer leaders are planning to intensify the protest.Meanwhile, a large number of farmers led by farmer leaders Rakesh Tikait, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, and United Kisan Morcha leader Yogendra Yadav have been staging a dharna in front of Tohana Sadar police station in Fatehabad district of Haryana since Saturday night demanding the release of the arrested farmers.Farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws have been protesting for the last six months. Many have camped at the borders of the national capital. Despite several rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmer leaders last year, the deadlock remains.Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Hindustan Times

07-06-2021

Kolkata