Narendra has no official position in the Indian Farmers Union formed by his father in 1986.
For the remaining three-and-a-half years of the Modi government’s second term, farmers are ready to live on the borders of Delhi in protest against three agricultural laws and the son of Mahendra Singh Tikait, the legendary farmer leader of the central government, cannot be stirred in any way. Says Narendra Tikait.
Narendra does not hold any official position in the Indian Farmers Union formed by his father in 1986. He mostly focuses on the farming activities of the family, but remains vocal on issues related to farmers as his two elder brothers Naresh and Rakesh Tikait lead from the front. In the movement that continued for more than 100 days.
Speaking to PTI At his home in Sisauli in Muzaffarnagar district, 45-year-old Narendra also said that his two brothers and the entire Tikait family would give up protesting, if no minor offense of any kind was proved against any family member, As some have dismissed accusations that they have built property and made money from the movement.
The eldest brother Naresh Tikait is the BKU president, while Rakesh Tikait takes over as the national spokesperson of the organization, who in 1988, under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Tikait, staged a virtual siege in Meerut for high cane prices, cancellation and reduction of debts. . Water and electricity rates. In the same year, BKU held a week-long protest at the Boat Club in Delhi to focus on the plight of farmers.
After the death of Mahendra Singh Tikait in 2011, Naresh and Tikait are heading the main organization in various roles, although several faction groups have emerged over the years in different parts of the country.
Narendra said that the Center is under any misconception that it can “dull” the protests of farmers, just as other movements have been done in the past using various tactics.
He said, “I am here in Sisauli, but my eyes are there.”
“This government has a misconception, perhaps because it has never faced such opposition, but we have seen the movement and have been part of those people for 35 years. This government only has the experience to face petty protests and achieve those through various strategies, ”he said.
“They cannot crush this protest in any way. This will continue till our demands are met. The tenure of this government is three and a half years, and we can continue the movement till the end of our term.
The small and publicly known Tikait said that the farmers would vacate the protest sites only after fully fulfilling their demands and not on the basis of any future assurances or partial agreement on the demands.
“If the government repeatedly states that crops will be purchased at MSP, then why can’t they give it in writing? They keep thinking about subsidizing LPG cylinders, but this subsidy has also ended.
Mr. Tikait alleged that the Center has done the same for the school education sector, where private institutions are spending money, while the condition of government facilities is getting worse.
“Now, they want business houses to store crops, store them and later sell them at desired rates. Their business is for business and this is the agenda, ”he said, adding that farmers are already covered under high-cost labor and fuel prices.
Asked about the allegations that the Tikait family owns crores of land and BKU is involved in hooliganism in the region, he said, “There is nothing that they (the government) can find against us and hence this (level accusation) ) Is happening. If they find any fault in any member of our family, we will return from Delhi. ”He also denied the allegations of hooliganism by the BKU.
“Why would we do that? Some even say that we are taking money for protest. Over 200 of our farmers have sacrificed during the protests. People are also donating during the last rites of those who have died. There is no question of taking money for protests because we are not short on any resource.
Describing his family’s position as the head of the Chaudhary or Balyan Khap (Balian Caste Council), Mr. Tulsi said this Khap There are 84 villages in this area according to the traditions that have been going on since ages.
His eldest brother Naresh Tikait is the head of Balyan Khap, which makes him the de facto chief.Sarve khap‘(All Castes Council).
“We have 84 villages (belong to) Balyan Khap) Belongs to. We have three lakhs by that measure Bigha Of the land. When our father passed away, he visited us on the responsibility of 84 villages. We are Chaudhary from 84 villages and all this is ours only. What are we going to do by demanding more money, ”he said.
Mr. Tikait also hintedSarve khap‘The protests at Delhi’s borders continued even further and the government did not agree to the demands of the farmers, so a meeting was held in Soram in the near future to further promote regional support.’
Thousands of farmers camped at Delhi’s border points at Trio, Singhu and Ghazipur, demanding that the Center repeal the three agricultural laws enacted in September 2020 and guarantee the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. is.
Farmers fear that the new laws will destroy their livelihoods and leave them at the mercy of corporations. The government, which has held 11 rounds of formal talks with protesters, says the law is pro-farmer.
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