Rakesh Tikait demands law on MSP

PRAYAGRAJ, March 14 (HS): Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait arrived here on Sunday and demanded a law on minimum support price (MSP) for crops along with the scrapping of new farm laws. “The way rates of a flight ticket fluctuate three to four times a day, the price of crops will not be decided the same way,” Tikait said. He said what the farmers protesting against the new laws have highlighted that there is no law on MSP, because of which traders exploit them by purchasing crops at throw away prices. He also said that government was trying to split the ongoing movement of farmers on caste and religious lines.

He claimed that opposition leaders are shying away from extending support to the farmers’ protest as they feared being targeted by the Narendra Modi government and framed or implicated in false corruption cases. He also sought support from youths and said the agitation against the three farm laws would go on till November for now. Tikait claimed the opposition was in a poor state and not speaking on the farmers’ issue.

Their old deeds are coming in their way and they are scared of being entangled in any issue or investigation, he charged. Targeting the Centre, the farmer leader said, “If there were a government, dialogue would have been possible. But there is a two-person government in the country. He said this regime did not seek anyone’s opinion. He charged that this was no government but a company that had to be “chased away”. Tikait said the farmers’ agitation would be a long fight and the youth must be ready to take it to its culmination.

He termed the agitation a fight to save land. We will lose our land in the next 20-30 years and this would happen with every farmer of the country. We can save our land only by fighting the government, he claimed. He said a farmer loved his land more than his son.

He asked the gathering to sacrifice all comforts and support the agitation. Big companies are coming. They are known for hoarding and control markets. Businessmen will bargain over the hunger of the farmer, Tikait charged. Tikait claimed if there is no law on the MSP, crops will be sold at half price. He said for now the agitation will continue till November. Since we have reached this far, there is no question of taking steps back. “We are committed to take fight to the finish,” he said before signing off.