Raipur: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait arrived in Raipur on Wednesday for his two day tour. Shortly after landing, he visited Baroda village where he met the family of farmer Siyaram patel who died while protesting near NRDA a month ago.
Tikait is scheduled to hold a Mahapanchayat with the farmers. Interacting with the media personnel at the airport, Tikait underscored that the state govt should accept the demands of the farmers to avert Delhi like situation in Raipur. Responding to questions on elections, Tikait swiftly denied any plans of the party. However, said that party members could contest if they will.
Ahead of Tikaits visit, the Raipur, District Administration and Police on Sunday morning carried out a joint operation to vacate the Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) premises illegally occupied by Naya Raipur Sangharsh Samiti for more than three months.The joint team of the administration and the police removed the tent and loud speaker from the venue occupied by the Samiti which has been demanding compensation for the land taken for Naya Raipur development and was protesting over the death of a farmer Siyaram Patel allegedly during an agitation in Naya Raipur.
The magistrate had also instructed the Samiti members to vacate the space and end protests.
Protests have upscaled in Nava Raipur. Entering the 115th day, the farmers have sought help from Rakesh Tikait to urge the govt fulfill their promises.
After multiple rounds of failed talks with the government, the protesting farmers had set up a base outside the Naya Raipur Development Authority office. They have been protesting for almost two months to get a fair price for their land that was taken over by the government when setting up the new capital city of Chhattisgarh, Naya Raipur. These farmers had also been promised jobs in exchange for their lands, they claimed.