Tikait: Farmers in no hurry to talk to Centre

Karnal: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said farmers are not in a hurry for talks with the government, as they have become used to staying at Delhi borders, come rain or shine.

Tikait was addressing a “kisan mahapanchayat” at Assandh grain market in Karnal district. The mahapanchayat turnout was in thousands.

Tikait said, “If the government has no time to talk with farmers, then farmers are also not in a hurry. This agitation will continue so long. Our panch and manch will remain the same and 2021 is the movement year. We will install fans, coolers and ACs in our camps.”

According to him, the government wants to destroy the mandi system while imposing anti-farmer laws, but the farmers have identified their mandis. They will sell their produce outside the state assemblies, DC, and SDM offices, as no grain market can be better than the government institutions.

“The government should not think that farmers will return home to harvest their crop. But I want to clear that we will also harvest the crop and the agitation will also continue until the government withdraws these laws,” Tikait added.

He said efforts were made by the government to break the unity of Punjab and Haryana, but the farmers foiled their attempts.

Tikait called for unity and cooperation across all sections of society to take on the government.

Other leaders, including Gurnam Singh Charuni, Balbir Singh Rajewal, and Yudhvir Singh, also attended the mahapanchayat.

They reiterated their demand for the repeal of the farm laws. They asked the protesters to be ready for a long battle.

Charuni said the agitation has become a “jan andolan” (mass movement) as every section of society now stands with farmers. He said they will not allow the MLAs who voted against the no-confidence motion in the assembly to enter the village but teach them a lesson in the future elections. He also accused the government of harassing the MLAs and other people who support the farmers’ agitation. He urged the people to take part in the Bharat Bandh on March 26 with enthusiasm.