In an interview on Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait, who has emerged as one of the prominent leaders leading the ‘farmers’ agitation against the three Farm Bills passed by the Centre in September 2020, inadvertently admitted to his global links.
Speaking to journalist Prabhu Chawla on Aaj Tak’s show Seedhi Baat, Tikait confirmed that the organisation he is associated with has its branches in 73 countries and he has an alliance with the Indian branch. The BKU spokesperson further added that the organisation he is associated with has also been protesting in Brazil, where efforts are being made to convert Brazillian labourers to farmers. “Brazil main hum mazdoor se kisaan bana rahe hai”, said Rakesh Tikait.
Watch Rakesh Tikait Confirming that he is part of organisation of 73 Countries. They are even working on what is happening in Brazil.
— Janab Aashish (@kashmiriRefuge) February 11, 2021
Indian Protests now is part of what Govts are planning for next 50 Years. They are against Multinational companies pic.twitter.com/kQDDG4jBaW
Amusingly, though, here too, Tikait pretends to be absolutely clueless about the international stars, such as Rihanna, Mia Khalifa and environmental activist Greta Thunberg who had backed the farmer’s protest, he accidentally, concurs to the International support the farmers’ protest has been drawing.
Answering to Prabhu Chawla’s question on whether they have been drawing support from all the 73 branches of the organisation across the globe, the BKU leader confirmed that all those members whose ideological preferences are similar to his have been supporting him.
Taikat, who came under the scanner for egging on the protesters to use brute force and violence during the tractor rally on Republic Day, confessed during the interview, that the organisation he is associated with intends to adjudicate policies for the next 50 years, inadvertently disclosing the larger conspiracy behind the ongoing agitation.
During the entire interview, Rakesh Tikait appeared extremely confused as he did not know what he exactly wants from the government or for what exactly have they been protesting for the last 75 days. The only thing he could recollect at this time was that they are against the big multinational companies entering the fray.
When the journalist told Tikait that the Govt’s paddy procurement at MSP has reached a record high this year, the confused Taikat started beating around the bush. Every time, journalist Prabhu Chawla tried questioning Taikat about government’s claim that it has purchased a record high of paddy at MSP this year, Tikait cuts him short. Here, the confused BKU leader, was heard saying, that their only demand is that the government should assure that the traders would also buy the farmer’s produce at MSP or a price higher than the MSP.
The BKU leader further claims that during all the 11 rounds of negotiations between the protesting farmers and the government, none of the ministers spoke to them. They were reading out from paper slips which they were carrying, he claimed. “Hum toh sarkar ko dhoond rahe hain…sarkar hain kahan? (we have been looking for the government, where are they?), said Taikat, as he further demanded that the Prime Minister of India should provide them with his personal number for negotiations.
The full interview can be viewed here:
Rakesh Tikait has been the face of the ongoing farmer’s agitation. He has been trying his best to milk the protest to kick start his political career. For the uninitiated, the FIR, filed by Delhi police to probe a larger conspiracy and criminal design behind the violent tractor rally on January 26 in Delhi, mentioned Bharatiya Kisan Union(BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait for spearheading and inciting the mob that wreaked havoc in Delhi.
A video of Tikait asking protesters to carry sticks, flags during the tractor rally had gone viral on the internet. But as the tractor rally carried out by protesters devolved into chaos and disarray, with protesters resorting to violence and vandalism, Tikait refused to shoulder the responsibility of the violence and pushed the blame on the Centre and the Delhi Police for the Republic Day disruption.