Farmer Leader Mahendra Singh Tikait who headed the Bharatiya Kisan Union died

Farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait who headed the Bharatiya Kisan Union passed away in Sisauli village of UP's Muzaffarnagar district on 15 May 2011. He was largely successful in using the farmer power effectively to launch agitations that would rattle government in Lucknow and New Delhi. He had the capability to rustle up tens of thousands of farmers for a siege that he lifted only when his demands were met. Tikait's most spectacular show was at Delhi's Boat Club lawns in 1988 when nearly five lakh farmers from western UP occupied the entire stretch from Vijay Chowk to India Gate. The Rajiv Gandhi government was forced to accept his 35-point charter of demands that included higher remunerative prices for sugarcane and waiving of electricity and water charges for farmers.

In a short span from 1985-88, his unorthodox methods of protest made him a figure to contend with. He was much sought after by leaders with farmer voter bases but he never allowed his fame to turn his head.

Tikait's dream was to bring the farmers of north India under one umbrella and create a powerful lobby that would determine the country's agricultural policies. Unfortunately, he didn't have the ability of Lok Dal leader Charan Singh to transcend his Jat caste, nor was he was able to reach out to farmers beyond the borders of his native western UP.