Rakesh Tikait said the government had to withdraw the new agricultural laws.
New Delhi:
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday questioned allegations of an international conspiracy that hijacked his protests over the center’s new farm laws, saying the government had to withdraw reforms that were not designed to help producers.
“What is the problem with removing the laws? When they were not brought with the consent of the farmers, he does not want the laws, why bring the laws in the first place? They should be removed and replaced by a law. in MSP (minimum support price)? “he told NDTV in an interview.
“We are just protesting. Are we doing anything else? We have nothing to do with politics. We have never told anyone who they should vote for. Farmers have to pay the highest interest rate: 350 percent. Rs 10,000 per night for a loan of Rs 1 lakh. Who do we turn to with these problems? “he said.
In response to authorities who have gone out of their way to paint the protesters as sponsored by separatists who want a Sikh state called Khalistan, the influential farmer leader of western Uttar Pradesh has dismissed allegations that his movement aimed to smear India. .
“What international conspiracy? What slander? If farmers are asking for the right price for their products, are you slandering India? If there was a law on MSP, farmers would be getting the right price. The real conspiracy is that in In the absence of MSP, there is a free hand to rob farmers, “he said.
Speaking about his decision to plant flowers earlier in the day at one of the protest sites next to the heavy barricades meant to isolate the protesters, Mr. Tikait said: “They will plant nails, we will plant flowers. This is a symbol of peace. . “
Thousands of farmers have camped out at three large protest sites on the outskirts of Delhi since November, saying the new laws must be withdrawn because they believe they will take away their guaranteed profits and leave them at the mercy of companies. Several rounds of talks with the government failed to end the protest.
After the violence during a tractor parade on January 26, the police stepped up their crackdown on farmers and defended the excessive fortification of the border, compared by opposition leaders to the border between India and Pakistan, saying it was necessary to prevent a repeat of the chaos of Republic Day.
Hours earlier, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told parliament that protests over farm laws are limited to just “one state” and that farmers are being “instigated” in a hint of Punjab ruled by the Congress.
“Farmers unions, opposition parties have failed to point out a single flaw in three new agricultural laws,” he said in the upper house, adding that the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are committed to the well-being of farmers.
“We are not based on prestige. We have been asking what is black in this law and nobody communicates,” said Tomar, reiterating the position of the center.
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