Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has sparked a fresh controversy after issuing a statement on the recent Pahalgam terror attack that raised questions about the true perpetrators and their motives. Tikait, the spokesperson for the Indian Farmers Union, had earlier made comments that seemed to distance the blame from Pakistan, suggesting that the real culprits were those benefiting from the violence within India.
Addressing a gathering in Karnal on Monday, Tikait acknowledged the national grief following the attack but questioned the true beneficiaries of the tragedy. “Who is benefiting from this incident? Who is playing the Hindu-Muslim card? The answer lies within them,” he remarked, further stating, “The thief who committed this act is not in Pakistan, but here.” These statements were shared in a video on Facebook by his son, Charan Singh.
Rakesh Tikait frames Pahalgam terror attack as a conspiracy…repeats 7 times that the attack is by those ‘who benefit from it’.
— Padmaja Joshi (@PadmajaJoshi) April 28, 2025
‘Those who benefit from a Hindu-Muslim narrative’
‘Chor aapke beech main hai’
This gentleman is a ‘farmer leader’ pic.twitter.com/F1cFGuQf0r
Tikait drew a controversial analogy with village crimes, saying, “When there is a murder in a village, the police first arrest the person who stands to gain, such as someone who has land. The person behind this incident, where will you find them? The thief is among you, not in Pakistan.” His comments, particularly the insinuation that the culprits were within India rather than in Pakistan, have sparked significant outrage.
Amid the backlash, Tikait issued a clarification, stating that his words had been misinterpreted. He asserted that his brother, Naresh Tikait, who is also a prominent farmer leader, had no intentions of challenging India’s stance on the terrorist attack. “We are with the government,” Rakesh Tikait added, distancing himself from any anti-government sentiments.
Further, Tikait reiterated his stance on the country’s security measures, saying, “Lahori salt and spices should be banned, and Pakistanis should be dealt with firmly. The entire country is united.” He emphasized that while internal issues related to agriculture and water continue to be a concern, the farmers’ union fully supports the central government on the issue of national security.
Meanwhile, Naresh Tikait, the President of the Indian Farmers Union, had earlier faced criticism for his remarks on India’s decision to dismiss the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. Speaking on Sunday, Naresh Tikait had expressed his disagreement with the move, saying, “Stopping Pakistan’s water is wrong. Whether the farmer is from India or Pakistan, both will suffer if the water is stopped.” He further criticized the broader blame placed on Pakistan, stating that not all of its people should be held responsible for the actions of a few extremists. “The treaty should have continued. We are against this decision. We are farmers, and every farmer needs water,” he stated.
Naresh Tikait’s comments have faced significant criticism from BJP leaders, who have called his remarks insensitive, especially in light of the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, including one Nepalese national. The debate over the Indus Water Treaty and national security continues to divide opinion, with the Tikait brothers finding themselves at the center of a political storm.
As the controversy deepens, the Tikait brothers’ stance on national security and their disagreements with the government continue to ignite fierce debate across the country.