The heads of all the 15 khaps or traditional sub-caste councils in western Uttar Pradesh set off for Delhi’s Ghazipur border on Thursday afternoon with about 100 supporters each to join the farmers’ dharna against the three new farm laws.
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said the khaps had been sending food, cots and other essentials for the farmers protesting at Delhi’s borders, but he had now asked them to join in directly.
“Their direct participation means a lot to us. Each khap leader has a following of over 10 lakh people. Let the government imagine what will happen if they and all their followers descend on Delhi’s borders,” Tikait said.