Rakesh Tikait vows to 'set Gujarat free'; claims Centre preventing farmers from protesting

Launching an all-India Kisan stir, Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Friday, said that y (BKU) will go to Gujarat and 'set it free', amid ongoing Centre-farmer faceoff on  Farm Laws. dressing a rally in Rajasthan's Bahurgarh, he said alleged that BJP-ruled Gujarat is controlled by Centre and hence t allowing its farmers to join protests. He also repeated his vow, ' Ghar Wapsi till Law Wapsi', reiterating that Singhu will remain main site of protest. Farmers from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Presh continue to protest at Delhi's borders - Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur for over 75 days.

Farmers' protest: Rakesh Tikait to hold Kisan Mahapanchayat in Yavatmal on February 20

Tikait: 'Will set Gujarat free' 

Moreover, Tikait has anunced a tour across Western India from February 14 to 23 - covering Haryana Maharashtra and Rajasthan, holding Kisan Mahapanchayats in se places to encour more farmers to join protests. Tikait, who has held Kisan Panchayats in Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Jind, Kurukshetra and Alwar, has irked Sanyukt Kisan Morcha by calling off 'Chakka Jam' in Uttar Presh and Uttarakhand on February 6, which said that Tikait did t consult m before his 'hasty decision'. Several Punjab-based farm leers have accused Tikait of claiming protest as his own movement.

Tikait to join 7 'mahapanchayats' in 3 states starting Feb 14

Tikait re-energises farmer protests

Muzaffarnagar Jat farm leer - Rakesh Tikait has been at forefront of farm movement at  UP-Delhi borders. With dip in farmers' protest after 26 January violence and Red Fort incident, Tikait re-energised protest as he called for farmers to he to Ghazipur, while breaking down on camera saying, " I will commit suicide, but won't vacate protest site". His ardent plea evoked a massive response with thousands of farmers camping at Ghazipur. Tikait's call was in response to Yogi government's order to vacate Ghazipur protest site within 24 hours - cutting off water, electricity, and internet. 

SC panel talks with 12 farmer unions from 8 states on Farm laws as standoff continues

After Tikait's breakdown, politicians thronged Ghazipur border, where Tikait and or UP farmers are camped at. While Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh dressed Kisan Mahapanchayat at Muzaffarnagar, politicians like Abhay Singh Chautala, Chaudhary Ajit Singh, Sanjay Singh, Arvind Kejriwal spoke to Tikat after he broke down. Many or leers like Indian National Lok Dal’s Abhay Singh Chautala, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party’s Hanuman Beniwal, Congress' Ajay Lallu and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut have visited Tikait at Delhi borders. Tikait has contested in 2007 UP Assembly elections from Khatauli seat with Congress support and  2014 Lok Sabha polls on a Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) ticket from Amroha - failing to win eir, but helped BJP minister Sanjeev Kumar Balyan win 2019 polls defeating RLD's Ajit Singh.

Rakesh Tikait points 'PM didn't say will make law on MSP';vows to continue stir till Oct 2