Black ink thrown at BKU leader Rakesh Tikait in Bengaluru; 3 detained

Miscreants on Monday threw ink on farmer leader Rakesh Tikait during an event organised by a farmers' organisation at the Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru. The incident occurred when Tikait was addressing the media and a group of people approached him and threw ink on him.

Soon after the incident, clashes took place between the organisers and the miscreants leading to both sides attacking each other with plastic chairs.

Reacting to the incident, Tikait alleged that the ink attack on him was in connivance with the state government.


"No security has been provided by local police here. This has been done in collusion with the government," Tikait said, following the incident.


Black ink was seen on his turban, face, Kurta, and green shawl around his neck.

The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) dubbed the incident "shameful" and demanded that the Karnataka government take strict action against the miscreants immediately.

"The misbehaviour with BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait in Bengaluru is shameful. The Karnataka government should ensure strict action against the culprits immediately," RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary said in a statement. "It's a condemnable act! Small people commit such acts with an objective to get everybody's attention," he said.

Tikait, a vocal critic of the BJP, is one of the prominent faces of the 2020 farmers' protest against the now-repealed three central agri-marketing laws.

Tikait's BKU was part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which had led the over-a-year-long protest against the Centre at Delhi's borders.