The BJP on Monday accused Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Naresh Tikait of speaking the “language of Pakistan†after he took exception to the government’s decision of putting in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty in consequence to the Pahalgam terror attack. Tikait in a video clip that made rounds on social media condemned the Pahalgam terror strike and called for the strictest action against those involved.
But he also remarked that the Narendra Modi government should not have suspended the Indus Waters treaty with Pakistan as it would affect the common people, especially farmers, in the neighbouring country. BJP Kisan Morcha president and MP Rajkumar Chahar lashed out at Tikait and demanded that he apologise for his remarks.
“Naresh Tikait is speaking the language of Pakistan. He says the government’s decision to stop water was wrong. He says that all Pakistanis are not culprits, only some people did that (terror strike),†he charged. “I strongly condemn his remarks. He should be ashamed of making such comments. He has spoken against India. He should apologise to the people of the country,†Chahar added.
The BJP leader said that the Modi government had taken tough decisions against Pakistan which included suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack. “In the coming days, more effective decisions will be taken,†he added.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma also slammed the Tikait for voicing views against the Indian government’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, saying the farmers of India have always sweated in the fields for the pride of the tricolour and sacrificed their sons to protect the country.†Verma said Tikait’s statement has exposed the real face of those who do politics of power by pretending to be patriots.
“If leaders like Tikait brothers, who pursue politics in the name of farmers, have so much sympathy for Pakistan, then it would be better that they leave India and go to Pakistan,†he said.
Verma’s Cabinet colleague Manjinder Singh Sira also slammed Tikait, saying the BKU leader was indulging in anti-national activities under the garb of trans-border farmer unity. “Those who are worried about the farmers of Pakistan today are neither true citizens of India nor true well-wishers of the farmers,†he said. Sirsa also trained his guns on Tikait and asked, “Should we continue giving water to those who want to shed our blood?â€
Meanwhile, BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait also reportedly raised questions on the government’s line of action post-Pahalgam, saying the probe agencies should catch those who stand to benefit from the incident.
