Nod denied to Tikait’s Feb 20 Yavatmal meet, virtual rally to be held

NAGPUR: The Yavatmal district administration has denied permission to Samyukt Kisan Morcha to hold a public meeting to be addressed by farm leader Rakesh Tikait in the town, on account of deteriorating Covid situation.
Tikait was scheduled to address a farmers’ mega rally at Yavatmal on February 20.
The organizers have put up a fresh application in which it has been mentioned that not more than 50 persons would attend the meet, which would be broadcast on social media.A decision is pending on the application.
The meeting at Yavatmal was the first major rally to be held out of Delhi, where farmers are protesting demanding law guaranteeing MSP and repeal of 3 farm laws. Under the original plan, the organizers had claimed that close to lakh farmers from all over the state would attend the meet. The purpose of the meet was to show that the farmers’ protests on Delhi borders were not limited to the northern states only.
Yavatmal was chosen for the meet as it has been the hotspot for farm suicides. Prime Minster Narendra Modi had also held one of his Chai pe Charcha meets in Dabhadi village of the district during 2014 poll campaigning. The promises made during the event have not been fulfilled yet, said the organizers.
Sandeep Gidde-Patil of Maharashtra unit of the Kisan Morcha said only the permission for a large public rally has been turned down. The organizers have submitted a revised application in line of the Covid norms, which is under consideration.
“During the Chai pe Charcha meet, the prime minister had talked about implementing Swaminathan Committee recommendations and fixing the minimum support price (MSP) at cost-plus-50%. It would be brought before the farmers that the same promises have been broken. Rather, implementation of the three new farm laws itself goes against the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee,” he said.
Yavatmal resident deputy collector said a fresh application was received at around 5pm on Thursday. It has been forwarded to the superintendent of police for further consideration.
Gidde-Patil said the denial of permission will not change Tikait’s plans to visit Yavatmal. “The rally will be held at the same place on the same day though the numbers may be less,” he said. The speech will be broadcast live from the site with huge screens put up for the purpose.