Farmer Group Slams Bharat Bandh, Draws Parallel With Taliban Activity

New Delhi: Even as Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait described Monday’s Bharat Bandh as “successful”, another senior farmer leader launched a blistering attack on those who had called the 10-hour strike.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) president Bhanu Pratap Singh said that such bandhs only affect the country’s economy.

“They (Rakesh Tikait) call themselves ‘kisan neta’ and then announce Bharat Bandh, which affects economy and farmers. How does it even benefit anyone? They want to follow in footsteps of Taliban by continuing similar activities,” Bhanu Pratap told ANI.

“No one should support Bharat Bandh and it should be opposed. I request the government to ban such organisations (farmer unions) which are involved in terrorist activities since January 26. I appeal to all state governments and the Centre,” the BKU (Bhanu) national president also told the news agency.

The BKU-Bhanu faction was part of the farmers’ protest that started at different points of the Delhi border from November 26, against the three agriculture laws passed by Parliament in September 2020. But it quit the protest and has been at loggerheads with farmer leaders like Tikait after violence erupted in Delhi on January 26.

Bhanu Pratap has since been an extremely vocal critic of the Delhi border protests, and even alleged that other organizations were ‘sponsored’ by Congress.

Revolting against its parent organization, BHU-Bhanu had said that Tikait is spreading terrorism at Delhi border.