BJP Is Trying To Get Me Killed: Rakesh Tikait

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Friday accused the BJP of plotting to get him killed. Tikait termed the ink attack on him in Karnataka recently, a “well-planned conspiracy”.

“The government wants to get me killed to break the Tikait family and the sangathan (union). But this will never happen,” he said.

Tikait was addressing a review meeting of BKU at Dharmeshwari Farm in Jangethi village of Meerut district.

He said that just as Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead by “conspirators”, people who raise their voice for the country and the farmers of the country are on the target of the “conspirators.”

“If some harm comes to one Tikait, then lakhs of Tikaits are ready to raise the Inquilabi flag in the country,” he said.

Targeting the BJP-run central government, he said that the government is trying hard to disturb the unity of BKU, but it cannot because of its unity. Tikait also hit out at the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh government, saying it should talk to the farmers and find a solution to their problems.

He said that the chief minister is the chief minister of the people of the entire state and not only of his own party, and he should engage with the farmers without any discrimination.

Meanwhile, one of the accused who attacked Tikait on May 30 was a murder convict released from jail for good conduct, a police officer said on Wednesday. The attack on the farmer leader at an event in Bengaluru drew widespread condemnation from various quarters.

“Shivakumar Atri (52) is a murder convict, who was released from the Hassan jail in 2015 for his good conduct,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharanappa SD told PTI.

He added that investigation is on to ascertain the accused persons’ antecedents and their connections to find out those who might have instigated them to attack Tikait.

The three accused in the ink attack case have been taken into police custody for further investigation in the case.

On May 30, three accused posing as journalists entered Gandhi Bhavan where Tikait was holding a press conference.

On the pretext of adjusting a microphone, one of them got on the stage and attacked Tikait with the mic while another threw ink on him. Later, the accused raised ‘Modi, Modi’ slogans before being arrested by the police.

While the state Congress alleged that the BJP was behind the incident, state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra dismissed the claim by saying those involved were not associated with the ruling party. (PTI)