Peasant leaders in Uttar Pradesh Rakesh Tikait and Naresh Tikait sunday said that the farmer leaders are committed to protect farmers’ self respect and asserted that the farmers will never agree to anything under pressure.
“We respect what PM Modi said, his dignity will be protected. Don’t want govt or Parliament to bow down to us, but will protect farmers’ self-respect too,” Naresh Tikait told reporters a day after Narendra Modi said his government was just a “phone call away” for talks with agitating farmers.
He also demanded that the government should release farmers and prepare a platform for talks.
“Hoping that a middle way is found,” he said.
“A respectful solution should be reached. We will never agree to anything under pressure,” Tikait told PTI at the Ghazipur border between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
BKU chief Rakesh Tikait also said that they will hold talks only if the Centre does not put prior conditions.
“With respect to the PM, we want a solution to the issue of farmers. However, we will not hold talks with the government at gunpoint. Farmers are ready to hold talks only if the Centre does not put prior conditions in front of us,” he said.
