Rakesh Tikait to join 7 ‘mahapanchayats’ in 3 states starting Feb 14

Beginning Sunday, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, one of the faces of ongoing farmers’ agitation, would be attending seven “mahapanchayats” planned across Haryana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan to garner support for the stir against Narendra Modi government’s new farm laws.

‘There will be ‘Ghar Wapsi’ only after farm laws are repealed,” Tikait said.

He says: “Our ‘manch & panch’ will be the same. Singhu border will remain our office. Whether Centre wants to talk today, in 10 days or next year, we’re ready. Won’t go without removing metal spikes from Delhi.”

Tikait, the national spokesperson of the BKU, has been leading the protesters at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border and said the farmers won’t end their movement until their demands are met.

“Mahapanchayats”, which will culminate on February 23, are part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s outreach programme, BKU’s media in charge Dharmendra Malik told PTI news agency.

These huge protest gatherings of farmers are scheduled to be held in Haryana’s Karnal, Rohtak, Sirsa and Hisar districts, and Maharashtra’s Akola and Rajasthan’s Sikar.