Rakesh Tikait Protests After Finding Ganna Bhawan Locked in Lucknow

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait staged a sit-in outside the Sugarcane Institute, also known as Ganna Bhawan, in Lucknow on Thursday after finding its gate locked. The protest came ahead of a farmers’ meeting scheduled for October 23. Tikait, accompanied by other farmer leaders, gathered at Gate No. 1 of the institute in the Dali Bagh area and objected to being denied entry. The farmers demanded access to the premises to make arrangements for the scheduled meeting and raised slogans during the demonstration.

According to reports, the sit-in continued for around two to three hours. Tikait said the farmers would continue their protest if they were not allowed inside and indicated that the meeting could be held outside the premises if necessary. During the demonstration, Tikait raised several issues concerning farmers in Uttar Pradesh, including sugarcane prices, pending payments from sugar mills, paddy procurement arrangements and compensation for land acquired for development projects.

He called for higher sugarcane prices and timely settlement of outstanding dues, stressing that delays in payments place financial pressure on farmers who depend on the money to cover cultivation costs and household expenses. He also expressed concern over paddy procurement, claiming that some farmers were being forced to sell their produce at prices significantly below the expected rates.

Tikait further questioned the use of older circle rates to determine compensation for land acquired for development projects, arguing that farmers should receive fair compensation reflecting present-day conditions. The protest drew attention to the broader concerns of farmer organisations, which have repeatedly called for better prices for agricultural produce, timely payments and transparent compensation policies.

Police personnel were present at the site during the demonstration. The institute’s gate was eventually opened after the sit-in, according to reports. The incident comes ahead of the BKU meeting, where farmers are expected to discuss their demands and the challenges affecting the agricultural community. The response of the authorities to these issues will be closely watched by farmers and their representatives.