Emotional Tikait Refuses To Surrender, Alleges Conspiracy
Jan 29, 2021 | Pratirodh Bureau
FILE PHOTO: Farmers rest inside a tractor trolley at the site of a protest against the newly-passed farm bills at the Delhi-UP border in Ghaziabad on December 2, 2020
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday broke down at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur farmers’ protest site, alleging that the administration was trying to crush their movement.
Tikait, who has been named in the Delhi Police FIR in connection with the violence in several parts of the city during the ‘Kisan Gantantra Parade’ on Republic Day, made his appearance at the protest site two days later, saying: “We were ready to surrender peacefully but the BJP’s local MLAs have been called to beat the protesting farmers.”
“There is a conspiracy against us. Now, I will not surrender even if the police fires bullets at us,” he announced from the dais of the farmers’ protest site.
Tikait also said that he will hang himself but he will not surrender now and urged the farmers to save their tents that have been in place since November 26 last year.
“I will keep on fighting for the farmers’ rights,” he added.
The Ghaziabad administration has served notice to farmers to vacate the protest site.
Earlier in the day, there was heavy deployment of police personnel and security forces at the Ghazipur protest site, where the farmers have been camping since November 26 last year.