Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 3
Amid international support for the farmers’ movement, an interesting change is being reported in the agitation at Delhi borders against the three contentious farm laws that has completed 70 days in the running.
Attention is gradually shifting from Singhu and Tikri, where Punjab unions are camping, to Ghazipur where BKU (Tikait) leader Rakesh Tikait is holding the fort.
Also read: After Rihanna creates flutter over farmers tweet, Kangana calls her ‘fool’, farmers ‘terrorists’
Interestingly, while the status quo of Punjab union leaders is largely unchanged, Rakesh Tikait is fast emerging as the ‘star’ of the movement.
“Currently most of the focus is on him, which is an interesting development given that in the initial days of the movement, he (Rakesh Tikait) was nowhere in the picture,” says a BKU leader who did not wish to be named.
Also read: India blames fringe groups for global social media storm against farm laws
He also pointed towards how “Punjab unions had sidelined the BKU (Tikait) faction in the state in the initial days of the agitation”.
Also read: Withdraw farm laws, don’t make it prestige issue: Azad tells govt in Rajya Sabha
A section is also pointing towards the “shift in focus” from wheat and rice given that Western UP farmers mostly grow sugarcane.
“What sugarcane farmers do (with sugar mills) is also a form of contract farming,” said a farmer.
Also read: After Rihanna, Greta Thunberg and others make farmers’ protest global
This is a huge development in context of Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state and integral to election plans of any political party. The state, which goes to Assembly polls next year, sends as many as 80 Lok Sabha MPs to the Centre.
Also read: Delhi Police announce cash reward for info on Deep Sidhu, 3 more accused in R-Day violence
Shashi Tharoor, Rajdeep Sardesai move SC against FIRs over R-Day violence
Group of academics seeks repeal of farm laws
140 lawyers send petition to CJI, request him to take note of Internet ban at farmer protest sites
SC refuses to entertain PILs seeking probe by judicial inquiry panel into Republic Day violence
Rakesh Tikait emerges ‘hero’ of farmers’ agitation initiated by Punjab unions
{$excerpt:n}
