Rakesh Tikait, the National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and a farmer rights activist, accused authorities in Odisha of detaining him and several other farmer leaders despite having official permission for their visit. The BKU delegation had planned a two-day trip to meet farmers and address their concerns. However, Tikait stated that all leaders were arrested a day before the visit, with some being sent to jail and others left stranded.
Tikait further revealed that he was intercepted en-route and taken to a guest house by state officials, expressing dissatisfaction with the state government’s actions. The purpose of the visit was to directly engage with farmers, understand their issues, and work towards finding solutions. Tikait emphasized the importance of officials speaking to farmers to resolve their problems effectively.
Despite the alleged interference, Tikait affirmed that the BKU would not be discouraged and planned to return with a more extensive agenda. The organization aims to strengthen its presence in Odisha by mobilizing farmers at the grassroots level, intending to build a movement and organization to address farmers’ concerns in the state.
