Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, February 12

Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday said farmers’ next target was to connect 40 lakh tractors with the ongoing agitation and to organise ‘kisan panchayats’ across the nation for mobilising more people in support of their demand for the repeal of three farm laws.

Tikait also revealed plans by farmer leaders to hold meetings in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat and said protesters in Delhi would not return home until the Centre reaches an “agreement” with them.

He called upon protesting farmers to be ready for a “foot march” stating that the Centre would have to accept their demands.Tikait was addressing a gathering at ‘Sarva Jatiya Kisan Majdoor Panchayat’ organised by Dalal Khap-84 at the Bahadurgarh-Tikri border here on Friday. Other farmer leaders, including Gurnam Singh Charuni, also attended the panchayat.

“Kisan mahapanchayats being organised these days are working to connect the people with the farmers’ agitation hence such panchayats will now be organised across the nation to garner more support from other states. Farmers will march towards Delhi if needed,” said Tikait who also held the government responsible for the Delhi violence during the Republic Day Parade on January 26.

He called upon the farmers to write ‘Kisan Karanti Yatra 26 January 2021’ on their tractor-trailers to spread the message that they would not go back to their home without getting the farm laws repealed.

“This agitation will continue until the Government of India talks to the committee and arrives at an agreement. Till that time, farmers will not return home,” he said.

Tikait alleged that farmers from Gujarat were being pressured not to lend support to the agitation.

“If anyone from Gujarat wants to come here to support the agitation and if it is found they are coming, police are being sent to their homes,” Tikait alleged.

“We will hold meetings in Gujarat and other states,” he said.

Tikait also said the “business on hunger” will not be allowed and those wanting it will be “driven out” of the country.

Hitting out at the farm laws, he claimed these would lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) and exploitation of farmers, from whom big companies will procure their produce at cheaper rates and then store it in godowns.

Big godowns will be built, which will be barricaded on similar lines like the ones near the protest sites at the Delhi borders, he said.

Without naming anyone, he said attempts had been made to divide the farmers’ stir.

“They tried to divide us on the lines of Punjab and Haryana, then small and big farmers.

“They did business of temple, religion and feelings. Now, they want to do the business on hunger,” Tikait alleged.

Charuni said protesting farmers would win the ongoing agitation in every situation as they were fighting for justified demands hence the agitation would go on until the demands were met.

He demanded there should be the guarantee of procuring the produce at minimum support price (MSP) while a provision of punishment should be made if the produce was procured at a price less than the MSP.