Rival farmer leader calls Tikait's call for Bharat Bandh 'Talibanism'

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) faction president Bhanu Pratap Singh has likened Tikait's call for Bharat Bandh similar to the Taliban's activities and said that bandh is not in the interest of the country and farmers. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions had given a clarion call to people to join the bandh

Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh): Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) faction President Bhanu Pratap Singh has likened Rakesh Tikait's call for Bharat Bandh similar to the Taliban's activities, signalling a fissure in the farmers' organisations. He further added saying that bandh is not in the interest of the country and that the intention of Tikait & Co. is to harass the farmers.

"This will not do any good to the farmers, but it will spoil the economy and farmers will also be affected," Singh said, adding that he has instructed his supporters to stay away from the bandh and that the government should strictly stop such people.

"...They (Rakesh Tikait) call themselves 'Kisan Neta' & then announce Bharat Bandh, which affects economy & farmers. How does it even benefit anyone? They want to follow in the footsteps of the Taliban by continuing similar activities...," Bhanu Pratap Singh, BKU (Bhanu) President said.

Hundreds of farmers across the country blocked national highways, including those connecting New Delhi to Punjab and Haryana, following a 'Bharat Bandh' call by farmer unions demanding to scrap the contentious farm laws. In Punjab's Pathankot, several farmers blocked the railway tracks with many seen lying on the tracks since morning.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in Delhi and in border areas in lieu of the Bharat Bandh called by farmer unions against the Centre's contentious agriculture laws. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions spearheading the farmers' agitation, had given a clarion call to people to join the bandh.