Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) National Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait with protesting farmers during a mahapanchayat outside the Noida Authority office in Sector 96, Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh on September 14, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday (September 14, 2026) asked farmers and villagers protesting over their pending demands in Gautam Buddh Nagar to continue their agitation, saying “struggle is the only option” left before them.
Addressing protesting farmers at the offices of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) and Noida Authority, Mr. Tikait assured them of his organisation’s support and urged them to remain at the protest sites.
“If you cannot enter the office of your local authority, meet officials or raise your issues, are you a hostage or a prisoner? If farmers cannot meet their own officials, struggle is the only option left before them,” Mr. Tikait said.
The farmers have been seeking developed residential plots and enhanced compensation for land acquired for development projects. Their demands include 10% developed ‘abadi’ plots in lieu of acquired land and an additional 64% compensation, besides greater flexibility in using residential plots and more ‘abadi’ land in villages.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson alleged that the administration was preventing farmers from holding protests and meeting officials, leaving them with no alternative but to continue their agitation.
“Whatever they do now, they will have to struggle. I will stand with these people. My support is with them. I tell you to stay here and continue your protest,” he said.
Mr. Tikait, a prominent face of the anti-farm laws agitation in 2020-21, said that earlier farmer protests could often be resolved through dialogue as the government also responded positively to such efforts. “But that situation no longer exists. Now people will have to struggle. The time has come when people have to take the path of struggle,” he said.
Mr. Tikait met groups of protesting farmers at the three authority offices, sat with them on the protest stage and assured them of the BKU’s support.
BKU national general secretary Pawan Khatan earlier said farmers had held meetings and conducted village-to-village outreach ahead of the September 14 Kisan Mahapanchayat under Tikait’s leadership.
Published – September 15, 2026 02:42 am IST
