'It Is The Players’ Movement': Rakesh Tikait On Khap Support To Wrestlers' Protest

Dressed in all-white and a saffron headscarf, Rakesh Tikait sits against large photographs of Chaudhary Charan Singh, Mahendra Singh Tikait, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Sardar Patel, and a farmer’s plough. There is a  collage resting on a corner table. There are photographs of Uttar Pradesh’s revolutionary kisan movement from 1986-1989, helmed by the “kisan messiah” Mahendra Singh Tikait. The office traces Bharatiya Kisan Union’s (BKU) rich history of protests and the participation of farmers and women in popular movements.

Twelve years after Mahendra Singh Tikait’s death, his sons, Khap leader and BKU president Naresh Tikait and BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait continue to carry on their father’s legacy. After leading an over year-long farmers’ movement, the two have now stepped in to fight for the wrestlers with the support of khaps and farmers. However, despite the nationwide support for the protests, Tikait expresses his concerns about the movement’s momentum that might be sabotaged by various government means. Shortly after he warned that the wrestlers would be pressured to withdraw their complaints and step back from the protest, fake news that the minor took back her FIR and Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia withdrew from the protests dominated headlines.

In an interview to Swati Shikha, Tikait said that the country is distancing itself from democracy and inching towards a dictatorship while the government and corporates have collaborated to control the media in an attempt to silence any voices against them.

In what capacity is the BKU associated with the wrestlers’ protest? What are the main factors behind you joining the movement?

Unlike politicians and political parties that serve their own agenda, the khaps and BKU are social entities that step in to intervene when something wrong happens. We represent rural India and the protesting children come from amongst us. If there has been an atrocity against them, it is our responsibility to stand with them. We are standing with whatever the players’ committee decides.

Where do you see this movement going with the support from khaps and villages?

The undercurrent reaction to this protest across the country makes it a success so far. Looking at the timeline of the events that have unfolded, people have started to think and identify what is right and wrong. We are receiving supportive messages from across the country, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Bihar, asking us to hold meetings. Movements in the coming days will be indicative of an ideological revolution. If the government does not agree to the wrestlers’ demands, we will organise assemblies everywhere and take this revolution further.

As decided at the Kurukshetra Mahapanchayat on June 2, will the protest at Jantar Mantar resume?

The wrestlers will not sit in at Jantar Mantar. We don’t think we are going forward with the plan. Our pressure intended to initiate a conversation with the government, which started with Amit Shah’s meeting the wrestlers. We were not a part of the meeting and the wrestlers have asked us to not take any decisions at the moment. It is, therefore, our responsibility to not do anything that might sabotage their communication with the government. At the Khap Panchayat in Sonipat Mundlana on June 4, the wrestlers asked us to not take any “stern” decision, indicating that their negotiations with the government are headed somewhere. As of now, they have not given any decision but (Bajrang) Punia said that they will call a meeting soon, which we will attend. If talks with the government do not pan out well, we will call for protests again.

What took the government so long to take cognisance of the wrestlers’ protest and talk to them? Will the government take any decisive step for their demands?

The government is an expert at lying. They serve their own politics even when they agree to hold talks. They will shield and protect their own people. If Brij Bhushan is chargesheeted, he will have to be arrested, who the government has safeguarded. Failure to arrest him will enrage the citizens. Therefore, the simplest way would be to strike a deal with the protesters while saving themselves from any backlash from the masses and ensuring that the complaints are taken back. They will pressure the complainants in the name of jobs, family and respect, and keep both the masses and Bhushan satisfied. By sending the message of negotiations, they might attempt to dilute the pressure that the players have achieved so far. It is a political move to disrupt this momentum, which takes a lot of time to be created.

The protestors have received huge support from khaps and the BKU following the May 28 episode at India Gate when the wrestlers were marching towards the new Parliament. Why have no Opposition parties shown similar support?

The Opposition is struggling to survive. Where exactly is the Opposition? Political parties earlier served in power and the Opposition raised a voice against the government’s wrong decisions. Today, however, the Opposition and masses have been pressured so much that their spirit to speak up against anything has been crushed. We are going through a period when we inch closer to dictatorship and away from democracy. We will cross that margin too in July 2024. This absence of Opposition therefore necessitates the need of an ideological revolution. You might not come to the protest, but at least allow the right ideology to come to you to distinguish the right from wrong. How long will you be silent in fear?

If the wrestlers go on the back foot, what will be the stand of khaps and the BKU?

What can be done then? This movement does not belong to the khaps or the BKU, it is the players’ movement. We stand unconditionally with the decision of the sports committee.

We fear that they might take back their complaints if pressured. The longer the movement is delayed, the more is the pressure. Their careers and jobs are at stake. Those spearheading the movement are different from those who have filed the complaints. The government will try to break them. We will keep raising our questions in the meantime. The government must answer if others accused of similar charges in the past have been arrested first or not. If yes, why is Brij Bhushan not arrested yet? And if not, we’d request the government to make amendments to the law itself so that investigations will be done before any arrests in such cases in the future.

Are you concerned about the wrestlers withdrawing from the protest? Were you aware of their meeting with Amit Shah?

There is a lot of pressure on the wrestlers and their families at the moment. We had no prior information about the meeting. We learnt about it through news and media. They might succumb to the government’s pressure. How will they fight the strong forces of the government which even someone like Rahul Gandhi could not? When Gandhi’s party had to take a step back, how far will the children go? As far as we are concerned, they are trying to pressure the minor’s family to withdraw her FIR. There are multiple factors at play here including social pressure and family dishonour. It may be possible others will also take back their complaints. An out-of-court compromise might also be attempted to sabotage the movement.

The government has alleged the protest is politically motivated. Is it wrong for protests and dissent to be politically motivated? What is the ideology behind discrediting protests and movements?

This government is scared that such narratives will cost them the elections, therefore it discourages and silences any voice against the government. The corporates and the government have collaborated successfully to dictate what they want to show and tell the masses. Adani owns 38 channels at present. A handful of social media and independent outlets continue to show the truth. That too will change after July 2024. Students and families involved in any movement are being identified. Those not in agreement with the ideology of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) will be marked anti-national. In case of people’s movement in Chhattisgarh, the ruling Congress alleges that BJP is with the movement. In most movements, there is some participation of the opposition, which is fundamentally their responsibility. However, in this case, we even have support from ruling BJP leaders.

(This appeared in the print as "It Is The Players' Movement")