PATNA: Well-known farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday said he would unite all small and large organisations that are agitating for the cause of farmers in Bihar and start a big agitation in the state from October.
Talking to media persons in the state capital here, Rakesh said the farmers of Bihar should come forward for their rights and raise their voices. “I will interact with all small and large farmer’s organisations in Bihar to bring them under one larger umbrella and make them aware of the need for a joint agitation for their genuine rights. I will start my programmes in Bihar from October,” he said.
“Currently, farmers in Bihar are agitating in scattered way under the banners of different unions and parties. They need to get united for a bigger cause. The farmers of Bihar had a big contribution during agitation near Delhi. The farmers of Bihar are not getting adequate prices for their crops. This is the biggest worry for them. I urge the farmers of Bihar to prepare themselves for a bigger struggle in the next few months,” he said.
Son of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) co-founder and veteran farmers’ leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, Rakesh further said that the overall condition of farmers in Bihar was very bad. “If necessary, I will call on chief minister Nitish Kumar and request him to take effective steps to solve their problems,” he said.
Rakesh, who also played a leading role in the famous farmers’ agitation near Delhi in 2020-21, also said that Bihar farmers or their sons should not migrate to other states looking for a job. They should demand a genuine price for their agricultural produce from the government. “If a farmer will get a genuine price for the crops, why would he go to other states looking for a job?” he asked, adding, “Similarly, if a farm worker gets the job in the home state why would he go to other states to earn a livelihood.”
