Farmers Movement Archive

Saffron stole-clad Tikait offers bell weighing 51 kg in Muzaffarnagar’s Shiva temple

Muzaffarnagar: Amid controversy that erupted after he raised ‘Allah hu Akbar’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’ slogans together during kisan mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar earlier this month, BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait appeared wearing saffron stole in the city’s biggest Shiva temple on Thursday. He blew the conch and offered a bell weighing 51 kg in the temple. Hundreds of farmers reached the temple to get a glimpse of Tikait, who maintained that he has support from all walks of life and BJP will lose polls this time. “I am offering this bell to Lord Shiva just to see if this government will hear it. Otherwise, they have not been listening to farmers for 10 months,” said Tikait. Tikait reached Muzaffarnagar on Wednesday. He first paid his tribute to Lord Shiva with family, but didn’t visit his home, not far away from there. “I will not go home until three farming laws are abolished,” he said. When asked about the slogan ‘Har Har Mahadev Allah hu Akbar’ raised by him, he said, “This slogan is mentioned in the Indian Constitution. BJP leaders should abandon their houses built by Muslims. They should also disclose how many Muslims are working for them. Who stitches clothes for them? They must tell us.” Later, he was welcomed by bursting firecrackers in the Muslim-dominated area, Meenakshi chowk. BKU Senior leader Shahid Alam said, “Since farming movement is going on, majority of Muslim farmers have joined the protest against farm laws. The movement is also helping to bridge the gap between Jats and Muslims created after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.”

The Times of India

2021-09-24

Meerut