“This is my message to the people of Bengal. The (BJP-led) central government has looted the country…don’t vote for them (BJP),” said Mr Tikait.
Farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait, addressing mahapanchayat (public meeting) in Bengal’s Nandigram Saturday, appealed to people of the state: “Don’t vote for the BJP.” Amid an intense Trinamool vs BJP fight over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee getting injured last week, Mr Tikait was speaking from the assembly constituency, where Ms Banerjee will take on Suvendu Adhikari, whose exit from the Trinamool Congress last year triggered an exodus of leaders from the party.
“For around 110 days, more than five lakh farmers are sitting at the borders of Delhi. Khela hobe (game on), khela. When the government of India is not scared of over 5 lakh people at the Delhi borders who have built permanent houses on the roads there, imagine what games will be played by the government and what will happen in Bengal,” Mr Tikait said in his address as the crowd roared in Bengali “Khela Hobe“- the Trinamool slogan that has become popular ahead of the assembly elections.
“This is my message to the people of Bengal. The (BJP-led) central government has looted the country…don’t vote for them (BJP). If they come to you seeking votes, ask them: when will we get our MSP (minimum support price),” said Mr Tikait, who has been leading an agitation against the centre’s new farm laws at the Delhi-UP border. He was welcomed in Kolkata by Trinamool MP Dola Sen earlier on Saturday.
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