Farmers Movement Archive

Uttar Pradesh: Naresh Tikait retracts ‘support SP-RLD’ statement, says can’t go against SKM

MEERUT: Hours after appealing to his supporters and khaps of western UP on Sunday to "ensure victory for the SP-RLD alliance in these testing times”, BKU chief Naresh Tikait retracted his statement on Monday and said he made a "mistake". The overnight change in stance by Tikait came, according to sources, after Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) intervened to say the farmers' group must be seen as “politically neutral”. Soon after the dramatic retraction, BJP MP from Muzaffarnagar Sanjeev Balyan met Tikait at the BKU headquarters in Sisauli, fuelling political speculation. “BJP candidates are not (our) enemies. Anyone can come to seek baba Tikait’s blessings,” said Tikait. This is Balyan’s first visit to Sisauli after a war of words broke out between the two during the peak of the anti-farm laws agitation following which BJP leaders faced people’s ire in many west UP villages. “No one (politician) has approached us. Only these alliance (SP-RLD) people came to us, and they were gathering at the Kisan Bhawan. So I asked people to take care of them,” said Tikait, adding, “Hum bol pade faltu (I spoke unnecessarily).” Tikait said he cannot go against the decision of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of 40 farmers’ organizations. “We cannot walk alone, or else SKM will remove us from the organisation,” Tikait said. "No one should come here (BKU headquarters) to seek votes." TOI in its January 17 edition had reported that the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief -- who is also head of Baliyan Khap -- had asked people to ensure “massive” support for the "gathbandhan" (the SP-RLD combine). “Do anything to make the alliance win,” Tikait was heard announcing in a video that soon went viral on social media. He later told TOI that he did ask people to support the SP-RLD alliance. “The sentiment is against BJP and there is no doubt about it,” Tikait said.

The Times of India

2022-01-18

Meerut