BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait in his statement to the media was seen eulogizing Sikh radical Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale who was responsible for the persecution of Hindus in the 80s & 90s leading to their subsequent exodus from Punjab.

Rakesh Tikait praises Bhindranwale

When one of the reporters raised the question of terrorists being supported by the protestors. Rakesh Tikait initially said, “a child was seen sporting a t-shirt carrying the picture of someone”. When reports pointed out that it was the picture of Bhindranwale, Tikait responded by saying “some people consider Bhindranwale a saint while the government believes him to be a terrorist”.

This can be seen as a typical Khalistani defense tactic where they term Bhindranwale a ‘saint’ despite the fact that it is on record that several innocent civilians were killed at the hands of Bhindranwale and his men.

Rakesh Tikait justifies lynching of Hindus

Following a Congress leader justifying the mob lynching of Hindus in Lakhimpur Kheri, Rakesh Tikait also justified the heinous act. Furthermore, he dehumanized the deaths of four Hindus by calling them ‘maneaters’.

He also opined that FIRs by family members of those who were lynched in Lakhimpur Kheri shouldn’t be registered. By calling those who had been brutally lynched to death ‘oppressors’ it appears that Rakesh Tikait was taking pride in the fact. It may be recalled that Tikait had previously resorted to hate speech against Hindus and Hindu temples.

While on the one hand, Tikait supports the view that Bhindranwale was a ‘saint’, on the other, he justifies the mob lynching of Hindus which raises some serious questions regarding the entire ‘farmer protest’ movement.

What has a Khalistani terrorist like Bhindranwale have to do with farmer protests? What is the connection between Bhindranwale and farm laws? Why is the death of Hindus being dehumanized? What right does Rakesh Tikait have to declare someone a ‘saint’ and others as ‘maneaters’? Access to justice is the fundamental right of every citizen and why should justice be denied to families who have lost their dear ones to mob violence only because the mob happens to be that of alleged farmers?

These are pertinent questions that every right-thinking person should ask not just from Rakesh Tikait but also from the likes of Congress leaders such as Amaregouda Patil Bayyapur who believe mob lynching of Hindus is justified and those supporting these so-called leaders.

(Featured Image Source: Dainik Jagran)