Peasant leader Naresh Tikait said: “The violence on January 26 was part of a conspiracy.
New Delhi:
Peasant leader Naresh Tikait said on Sunday that protesting farmers will honor the prime minister’s dignity, but are also committed to protecting their own self-respect, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government was only a “phone call” for conversation. with them.
Tikait said the government should “free our men and prepare an environment conducive to talks.”
“A respectful solution must be reached. We will never accept anything under pressure,” he told PTI on the Ghazipur border between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on Saturday that his government’s offer on land laws made to protesting farmers “still stands” and was only “a phone call” for talks, days after violence broke out in parts of the national capital on Republic Day.
“We will honor and respect the dignity of the prime minister. The farmers do not want the government or parliament to bow down to them,” Tikait said.
“It will also ensure that farmers’ self-respect is protected. A middle way must be found. Talks must be held.”
During their parade on January 26, many of the protesters, driving tractors, arrived at the Red Fort while some of them hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagpole on the ramparts, where the prime minister displays the national flag on the Day of the independence.
Tikait said: “The violence of January 26 was part of a conspiracy. The Tricolor is above all. We will never let anyone disrespect it. It will not be tolerated,” he said.
The Delhi Police have recorded almost 40 cases and made more than 80 arrests in connection with violence and vandalism.
“The government must free our men and prepare an environment conducive to talks. A respectful solution must be reached. We will never accept anything under pressure,” Tikait said.
In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi also referred to the Red Fort incident, saying the country was deeply pained to see the Tricolor being disgraced on Republic Day.
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