‘Accept demands by tomorrow’: Rakesh Tikait comes in farmers’ support

Neeraj Mohan

New Delhi, February 14

In response to mounting pressure over the escalating police action against agitating Punjab farmers, leaders of various farmer associations, who had initially distanced themselves from the ‘Dilli Chalo’ call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-political), are now rallying in their support, urging the Haryana Government to stop attacking farmers.

Amid the ongoing tension at the Shambhu border between Haryana police and farmers, the SKM, an umbrella organisation representing 40 farmer associations across the country, has declared a four-hour protest in Punjab against the Haryana Police’s action on Thursday.

Prominent figures within the SKM assert that while they may not be directly involved in this agitation, they stand in solidarity with the farmers, emphasising that their demands, including the guaranteed Minimum Support Price, are same.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni), instrumental in uniting Haryana farmers during the 2020-21 agitation, has convened a meeting of its office-bearers on Thursday to decide on extending support to the ongoing protest. Gurnam Singh Charuni, president of the BKU (Charuni), said an emergency meeting on February 15 will discuss the current situation and formulate strategies to support the protest.

Rakesh Tikait from western Uttar Pradesh has vehemently criticised the action of the police against the farmers and issued an ultimatum to the government. Tikait emphasised that the farmers were steadfast in their stance and would not withdraw without a meaningful dialogue. He set a deadline of February 16 to allow farmers to reach Delhi or accept demands, underscoring that “Delhi is not far for us.”

Tikait hinted at the possibility of uniting farmers nationwide at the Shambhu border as the movement gains momentum and support from other unions.

Tikait said the BKU (Tikait) has called a Mahapanchayat at Sisoli on February 17 in which its office-bearers from UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Delhi would take call on the ongoing farmers agitation and police action against Punjab farmers.

Additionally, Darshan Pal Singh, another farmer leader, announced in a video that the SKM’s Punjab chapter has decided on a four-hour protest in Punjab on Thursday.

Internal reports suggest that farmer leaders, who have not yet joined the ongoing agitation, are facing the increasing pressure and criticism from fellow farmers, prompting a review of their stance.

Hints at bigger movement

Tikait has hinted at the possibility of uniting farmers nationwide at the Shambhu border as the movement gains momentum and support from other unions