Rakesh Tikait questions Vice President Dhankhar’s resignation, alleges government pressure
New Delhi: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson and prominent farmers’ rights activist Rakesh Tikait has alleged that Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation was not merely due to health issues, but was the result of mounting political pressure from within the ruling government.
Speaking to News Tak, Tikait accused the central leadership of systematically targeting those who raise concerns about farmers' issues.
Commenting on the resignation, Tikait said, “Who resigns without reason? Only someone who is under pressure. A real person wouldn’t resign so easily, he would rather suffer in silence than step down. This resignation wasn’t voluntary. The government must have forced him.” He suggested that Dhankhar, being a son of a farmer, was possibly sidelined for speaking in favour of farmers, a stance that the government allegedly does not support.
“There will be many more like Satpal Malik. Many will become like Dhankar Sahab. Anyone who talks about farmers is made to resign or is defamed. If someone raises issues of land and crops, they are pushed out,” he said. He further added that the current government, which he labelled as being pro-trader and pro-industrialist, was not aligned with the interests of farming communities. “This party is for big businessmen. They want to take away the farmers’ land. If Dhankhar had continued to speak on such matters, they wouldn’t have allowed him to remain in the Vice President’s seat.”
He also criticised the government's alleged use of investigation agencies to suppress dissent. “If someone becomes like Satpal Malik, their ED will be set loose on them. Even if they’re dying, the government will find a way to bring them back and cover everything up,” he said.
Tikait expressed concern about how farmers and Jat leaders are being treated. Referring to Samajwadi Party MP Harendra Malik’s remarks, he said, “Every Jat works for the honour of farmers, but they never receive that respect. First, they are provoked, then they are defamed in society. That’s the pattern.”
He also claimed that the current leadership wants to weaken entire communities by removing their representatives. “This government doesn’t want leaders from any community; they only want the people. They’ve removed their own and sidelined them. Now they’re working only on the voters, not their voices.”
Tikait warned that democracy itself is at risk, calling the government’s approach increasingly authoritarian. “This is not a democracy anymore, it’s a dictatorship. They won’t speak, but you never know whom they’ll act against. The Supreme Court has to remain alert if the country is to be saved. If we don’t use our rights and make sacrifices, this government will sweep everyone away, even the protesters.”
When asked who might be chosen to succeed Dhankhar, Tikait responded, “Nobody knows who will get that position. The ones whose names are discussed publicly usually don’t get it. This government can bring down anyone by making their names trend, and then they ‘fix’ it. That’s how they work.”
Furthermore Tikait remarked, “Those below 50 years of age may become the next Dushyant Chautala. Those above 50, they’ll become like Satpal Malik, respected but excluded. There’s a long list of such people. But why name them?”
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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
