Farmers' Protest: Rakesh Tikait slams Delhi Police, accuses them them of conspiracy behind R-Day violence

New Delhi, Feb 03: Bharatiya Kisan Union (Arajnaitik) leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday slammed the Delhi Police and accused them of conspiracy behind the Republic Day violence. The BKU leader, who was en route to Jind to attend a Mahapanchayat, said, "We have been holding panchayats for the last 35 years, protests are organised at Jantar Mantar but did any farmer organisation reach Parliament? A man was misled, an announcement was made and after 13 hours a religious flag was hoisted at the Red Fort. This is being investigated."

"The Delhi Police has conspired to do this and it is the main culprit. It barricaded the route allotted to us for the tractor rally and opened Delhi giving way to the farmers to enter the national capital," he said.

On Republic Day, protestors did not follow the prearranged route and broke barricades to enter Delhi, clashed with police, and vandalised property in several areas during the farmers' tractor rally. They also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts.

Talking about holding panchayats Tikait said, "Our main aim is to visit villages and gather their support. Such panchayats will be held across the country until the government accepts our demands. If the government does not fulfill our demands, we will implement our proposal of gathering 40 lakh tractors and take out 'yatras' across the country to protest against the government."

On Wednesday, the Haryana khap has organised "kisan mahapanchayat" in Haryana's Jind. Rakesh Tikait and several other leaders of various farmer unions are slated to address the gathering. The mahapanchayat will be held in the sports stadium of Kandela village.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.