No ‘Ghar Wapsi’ until Demands of Farmers are Met: Rakesh Tikait

On Sunday, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said that the protest they have started is a people's movement and won't struggle. He addressed that the participants of a 'kisan mahapanchayat' in Haryana. There will not be 'ghar wapsi' until the requirements of farmers are fulfilled. This is a campaign of people; it's not going to collapse.

The spokesman for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) reported that the movement against agricultural laws is going high. Tikait praised their position in reinforcing the stir with many 'khap' leaders present at the 'mahapanchayat.'

The farmers' unions and their allies broadly praise Tikait with putting the 75-day-old protest back on track after violence on Republic Day. The tractor rally carried out by farmers' leaders in Delhi on 26 January was marred by violence as a group of protesters marched towards central Delhi, defying the authorised road, and clashed with the police.

A few had stormed the historic Red Fort and hoisted a religious flag from its ramparts along with the Tricolour - a picture that was a loss of face for the campaign of farmers. For the Red Fort incidence, the officials as well as the general public lashed out at farmers. The police immediately issued directives telling the demonstrators to disperse and cease their agitation. The demonstrations started to lose steam at the three boundary points near Delhi: Ghazipur, Tikri and Singhu.

Yet Tikait vowed to proceed and address a conference at the Ghazipur border, making an emotional declaration that he will 'kill himself' but won't end the protest with his eyes weeping. That succeeded and the farmers were prepared to take on the government once again over three farm laws passed last year in September.

The protesters then declared a 'Chakka Jam' on February 6, which was peacefully carried out across the country. On Saturday, Tikait said the farmers' leaders gave the central government 'time' to revoke the laws until October 2.

The protesting farmers expressed fear that these laws would pave the way for the abolition of the scheme of minimum support prices (MSP), leaving them at the 'mercy' of major corporations.

The government has, however, maintained that the new laws would offer improved opportunities for farmers and incorporate new agricultural technology.