Photo Source: Rakesh Tikait's X account
Rakesh Tikait attacked by mob in UP; SKM demands immediate arrest of culprits
By Daljeet Kaur
Chandigarh, May 3, 2025: Prominent farmer leader Rakesh Tikait was physically attacked by a violent mob during an Aakrosh Rally in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh on Friday, held in protest against the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
According to reports, the assailants—allegedly part of a communal group waving saffron flags and chanting ‘Modi, Modi’ slogans—manhandled Tikait, hit him with flag poles and forcibly removed his head covering, triggering chaos at the site.
In a sharp response, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Saturday strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “planned attempt to silence democratic voices” and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible.
The SKM also slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for what it called a breakdown of law and order, labelling it “Jungle Raj.”
“This attack exposes the anti-national, neo-fascist face of the RSS-BJP combine,” the SKM said in a strongly worded statement, accusing the ruling parties of exploiting public grief over the Pahalgam tragedy to incite hate against minorities, farmers, and progressive groups.
The SKM expressed concern over rising communal tensions, citing recent killings of two Muslim youth in Agra and Mangaluru, and threats to Kashmiri students and traders in multiple states, including Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
Calling for unity and vigilance, SKM urged mass movements, farmers' bodies, and civil society organizations to join hands in a nationwide campaign to safeguard the secular and democratic values of India.
“At a time when the country should be united against imperialist-backed terrorism, the RSS-BJP combine is attempting to divide and rule. We will resist these forces at every level,” the statement concluded.