Farmers to Oust BJP If Farm Laws Not Repealed: Rakesh Tikait

Rakesh Tikait, farmer leader said that if the controversial agricultural law is not repealed and a law enacted to guarantee the minimum support price (MSP) of crops, farmers would expel the BJP government.

Tikait, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, spoke at a meeting with the BKU’s office-bearers from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh at the Ghazipur border.

Tikait is very well known for his leadership in farmers’ protests against three farm laws. He is a spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union from Uttar Pradesh, India.

According to BKU statement, the meeting was held to frame strategies to strengthen farmers' agitation in these states to drive the withdrawal of three agricultural laws and the need for MSP security.

The statement made in Hindi quoted Tikait saying "If the laws are not repealed and MSP not guaranteed, we shall force the BJP (government) to quit. We will reach out to farmers and expose the BJP. A government made by farmers cannot stay in power if it is anti-farmer”.

However, influential BKU leaders emphasized that farmers do not oppose any political party. He further said, "We are not against any party. We are only against any group which is opposed to the welfare of the farmers and laborers”.

At the meeting, Tikait held a discussion on the BKU’s press conference scheduled for August 11 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand and Nahan , Himachal Pradesh, informed farmer union’s media in-charge Dharmendra Malik.

About Farmers Protest

Many farmers have been camping on the borders of New Delhi - Tikuri and Gajipuru since November 2020. They are demanding a repeal of three agri laws — Farmers' Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & farm Services Act 2020 & the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. They also want a legal guarantee on MSP for their crops.