Black ink and deadly attack won't suppress farmers: Kisan Union leader

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said black ink and deadly attacks cannot suppress the voices of farmers and labourers. Miscreants threw ink at the leader at an event at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru. After the ink was thrown at him, attackers and organisers got into a fight using plastic chairs.

Three people were arrested and are being interrogated.

Tikait had blamed the local police responsible for the incident and alleged that the BJP-led state government was party to it. Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra dismissed BJP leaders' involvement in the attack. He said he denounces the attack as everyone has the right to freedom of expression.

The Kisan Union leader said such attacks will not stop farmers, labourers, Dalits, the exploited, backwards, and tribals of this country from speaking up. "The fight will continue till last breath," he tweeted.

The farmers' event was organised to clear the doubts about leader Kodihalli Chandrashekar following a sting operation against him. The Karnataka farmer leader was allegedly caught asking for money.

A press conference was also organised as part of the vent. The attackers posed as journalists and blended with the crowd. They were seen taking notes. Tikait was addressing the media when one of them went to the stage under the pretense of adjusting the microphone. The miscreant first attacked Tikair with the mic and his companion threw black in on the farmers' leader. The ink stained his turban, face, white kurta, and green shawl worn around the neck.

Tikait is a vocal critic of the ruling BJP. He was also one of the prominent leaders during the 2020 farmers' protest against the now-repealed three central agri-marketing laws

Opposition parties including Congress, AAP, and the Rashtriya Lok Dal condemned the incident.