No compromise on Tikait's arrest, asserts UP govt

Lucknow, Mar 31 (UNI) Acting tough on Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, the Uttar Pradesh government today ruled out any compromise formula asserting that he would be arrested on the chrages levelled against him under the provisions of the SC and ST act.

''Police have been trying hard to arrest him as it has already obtained the arrest warrant from court,''J N Chamber, the Principal secretary (Home), UP told reporters here this evening.

Putting aside the reports of a compromise formula being achieved in the arrest as the whole excercise had turned violent as the police party was attacked by Tikait supporters in his native village Sisauli in Muzaffarnagar district this morning, he said, ''Tikait has committed a crime and would be arrested for the same.'' The Principal Secretary (Home) admitted that the police party had to face stiff resistence from the BKU members and mild force was used against them. At least 12 people including some policemen, were injured in the violence followed by the arrest of eight protestors, including Surendra, son of Tikait.

In reply to a question, he said the delay in arrest was only because the administration did not want any innocent person to be harassed in the process.

Tikait was charged with using objectionable languge against UP chief Minister Mayawati at a rally in Bijnore yesterday.

Subsequently, an FIR was lodged against him, but the police's attempts to arrest him failed due to stiff resistance from BKU workers.

As a result, tension prevailed in Sisauli village which was surrounded by police and PAC personnel with senior officers to the rank of IG and DIG personally supervising the operation to arrest the BKU leader.

Earlier, talking to UNI, the Inspector General of Police (Meerut Zone) V K Gupta had confirmed use of mild force and tear gas against the protesting BKU members.

Meawnhile, Samajwadi Party, the main opposition party in Uttar Pradesh, has come out in support of the BKU leader, condemning his arrest attempts by the Mayawati government.

SP Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and state acting President Shivpal Singh Yadav defended Tikait, saying '' Whatever Tikait has said were harmless remarks and his statement was construed as objectionable due to the tone of his rural dilect.'' He said the state administration had converted Sisauli, the native village of Tikait, into a fortress and its action was 'uncalled for'. ''BKU leader has not said anything in the manner as it is being projected by the government which has created unnecessary terror among the villagers and poor farmers,'' he said.

Mr Yadav said the district units of his party had been directed to help the farmers and save them from the 'improper' action of Mayawati government.

SP is the second major political party after the Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) to come out in support of BKU.

Meawnhile, Apna Dal's national President Dr Sone Lal Patel has condemned the UP government's action against farmers and announced to stage a dharna in protest.

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