MEERUT/MUZAFFARNAGAR/LUCKNOW: Senior functionaries of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) parted ways to form a new outfit – BKU (non-political) – on Sunday, the death anniversary of union founder Chaudhary Mahendra Singh Tikait.
Reacting to the development, Rakesh Tikait accused the ruling BJP of ” orchestrating the rebellion” in the group. “A few members surrendered before the government earlier also. This will not hurt the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, which has over 550 members, including BKU,” Tikait said.
The new outfit was formed under the leadership of former vice-president of BKU Rajesh Singh Chauhan, who was unanimously elected its national president. He claimed that over 80% of BKU members and office bearers had joined him, including senior members such as Harinam Singh Verma, Digambar Singh, and Anil Talan.
Chauhan levelled allegations against the Tikait brothers, Naresh and Rakesh, for “having sympathy for a particular political party”.
He told TOI, “The BKU turned political. The Tikait brothers supported one political party throughout the elections and this wasn’t what their father, who founded the organisation, would have wanted.”