Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday alleged that farmers were not receiving fair compensation for their land acquired for development projects. He also claimed that rising costs, mounting debt and shrinking income had pushed the farming community into distress.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the event, he accused the government of failing farmers and unemployed youth. To highlight such concerns, the BKU has been holding district-level gatherings across Uttar Pradesh. The BKU also demanded withdrawal of cases registered against farmers, resolution of pending issues related to the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, repair of roads in rural areas, availability of fertilisers and quality seeds through cooperative societies, cleaning of canals and restoration of defunct government tubewells.
Tikait, also Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson, attended the BKU’s “Kisan Kranti Mahapanchayat” at Mundera Mandi in Prayagraj. He said land acquisition had emerged as a major issue across the country with farmers allegedly receiving inadequate compensation despite large-scale infrastructure projects such as highways and industrial developments. On the upcoming elections, Tikait, who arrived at the venue in a tractor, said political promises and rhetoric made in the six months preceding polls should not be taken seriously. He said governments change only when people decide to bring about a change.
