Farmers Movement Archive

Tikait makes veiled appeal against BJP

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday said if he had to tell farmers whom to vote for, it would be a failure of the 13 months of training they had received on the Delhi border. Speaking to a television channel, Mr. Tikait said he did not believe in passing his followers with “grace” marks. “They know where they have to cast their ballot,” he added. When reminded that the three contentious farm laws had been passed by the Centre and the State government had no role, Mr. Tikait said if farmers wanted to sell their produce at half the minimum support price (MSP), they were free to vote for the ruling dispensation. This is the third time in a week that Mr. Tikait, who proclaims that his organisation is apolitical, has made a clear appeal to vote against the ruling dispensation and made a veiled appeal to garner support for the Samajwadi Party- Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance. Earlier this week, Mr. Tikait said Hindu-Muslim and Jinnah rhetoric were “State guests” till the elections were over. “People should be wary of statements made from government platforms. I don’t know who will win the elections but I can certainly say people will not vote for the ruling party,” he said. On Thursday, in Bijnor, Mr. Tikait said the BJP government ignored the interests of farmers. “The government that failed the trust of farmers had to face their ire. I am not telling you whom to vote but I can say only those farmers would vote for BJP who want to sell their crop for half the MSP,” he said.

The Hindu

2022-01-30

January 30 2022 06:54 IST