[ad_1]
‘We by no means requested anybody to vote in a selected method, not even in our personal households. We spoke concerning the Andolan and communal concord. It was as much as the individuals to go and vote as per their free will,’ says Rakesh Tikait.
File picture of farmer chief Rakesh Tikait. PTI
Rakesh Tikait had simply touched down in Delhi. He had been to locations — Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and now the nationwide Capital. I caught a trip with him from the airport to town, hoping to seek out him exhausted and sleepy, however Tikait was vigorous and jovial. He had a number of hours earlier than his Chandigarh departure.
As we sat in a white SUV with six different individuals, Tikait shared his experiences in Jharkhand. However I pulled him again to his dwelling state — Uttar Pradesh.
So, what did he consider the current Meeting election leads to Uttar Pradesh? How did the BJP win? One of many campaigns of the farmers’ motion was to defeat the incumbent BJP authorities in Uttar Pradesh. Tikait smiled and spoke in his typical fashion, “They (BJP) have their methods of successful. We’re motion individuals, not political ones.”
He continued, “We by no means requested anybody to vote in a selected method, not even in our personal households. However we did elevate farmers’ points — sugarcane, MSP, and so on. We spoke concerning the Andolan and communal concord. It was as much as the individuals to exit and vote as per their free will.”
I requested him concerning the destiny of the breakaway factions aka Rajewal and 6 different unions. Will they be taken again? “There’s a committee which decides on these issues, we’ll focus on and resolve,” Tikait stated.
On whether or not this may very well be the SKM’s weakest second ever because the Andolan started, he stated: “Is it SKM’s job to sit down on the highway 24×7? Are 1000’s of tractors and sitting at protest websites our solely power? Each time our intervention is required, we work there. SKM is a platform. Individuals in want align with us.”
However was it truthful to depart Delhi with out MSP? Have been non-Punjabi and Haryanvi farmers let down? “Do actions go on for 13 months? Are 13 months early to depart? Whoever says it’s early, that individual ought to inform me the variety of nights they’ve spent on the (Delhi’s) borders? We’ll reply then.”
Tikait continued: “There might be an Andolan for MSP, we’re campaigning throughout the nation. The federal government has additionally made an MSP committee; by 31 March, it would take form.”
Does the BJP’s victory in any method undermine the farmers’ motion? “There’s nothing to undermine. Have been we preventing the elections that we misplaced? We give attention to farmers’ points and our actual victory rests in making our governments delicate to farmers’ points,” Tikait stated.
He continued, “The (UP) authorities has promised to chop the electrical energy costs by half. We’ll maintain an in depth have a look at that. Additionally, sugarcane costs haven’t been proportionately elevated. And 23 crops should be related with Digital India. That’s our subsequent Andolan. The federal government ought to embody them. Why ought to sugarcane funds occur in 14 days or one yr? Why not instantly? All these points should be addressed.”
I then raised the delicate Lakhimpur Kheri difficulty. Tikait was one of many key negotiators, in spite of everything. Have the victims and their households acquired reduction and the accused punished? “When your entire system has been compromised, what can one say? The prime accused might be out in 3 months; how will the nation really feel about his? If your entire nation feels it’s proper, then we’ll settle for it,” he stated.
“The individuals know what is going on is improper, and the federal government will not be proper. However this doesn’t essentially translate into votes. It doesn’t imply that by successful elections, a celebration can free criminals at will. If the occasion performs with the feelings of the nation, by liberating the important thing accused. Individuals will know,” Rakesh added.
He assured me that the calls for for compensation have been met and with the brand new authorities simply in, the victims’ households will get authorities jobs too. Tikait and SKM have been speaking with the federal government.
Lastly, what’s the way forward for the farmers’ motion? “We don’t favour sitting on the roads, we have now our farming and different work to do. As soon as the problems come up, we’ll tackle them and work for the farmers.”
By this time, the automobile reached its vacation spot. I acquired off, hoping to satisfy Tikait once more, with extra particulars on the farmers’ motion.
The author is an unbiased agri-policy analyst and the previous director, Coverage and Outreach, Nationwide Seed Affiliation of India. Views expressed are private
Learn all of the Newest Information, Trending Information, Cricket Information, Bollywood Information, India Information and Leisure Information right here. Comply with us on Fb, Twitter and Instagram.
[ad_2]
Source link
