National Desk
27 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Amid ongoing threats to Bollywood actor Salman Khan from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Indian Farmers Union leader Rakesh Tikait suggested that Khan apologize to the Bishnoi community if it would help resolve the situation peacefully. Speaking at a Kisan Mahapanchayat, Tikait commented that an apology, if warranted by past actions, could prevent further escalation.
Shifting to farmer concerns, Tikait accused the Uttar Pradesh government of backtracking on its promise of free electricity for farmers by starting to install meters in their fields. He warned that if the BJP intends to proceed with this, it should include the plan in its 2027 election manifesto. Otherwise, he vowed that farmers would resist the installation of meters.
Tikait also raised issues on crop prices, noting that farmers in Jaunpur, Mirzapur, and Ballia are being forced to sell paddy at a low price of Rs 1,200 per quintal. He further claimed that maize farmers in Bihar have suffered losses amounting to one lakh crore rupees, signaling a broader crisis in the agriculture sector.
Regarding the Agniveer Yojana, Tikait alleged that it was created to meet the security staffing demands of a particular business group, claiming the scheme was designed to supply 25,000 guards for corporate interests.