Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national president Rakesh Tikait on Saturday appealed to the family of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota to perform his last rites while urging supporters to carry forward his fight against narcotics, as the deadlock over the cremation of the activist’s body continued for the 12th day.

Visiting Mansa to express solidarity with Jhota’s family and the joint action committee spearheading the agitation, Tikait said the struggle for justice and a drug-free Punjab must continue even after the cremation.

“The family should consider performing the cremation so that all aspects of the situation become clear, but we understand the profound pain they are enduring,” he said, adding that the farmer organisations would support whatever decision the committee took.

Describing Jhota as a martyr who laid down his life fighting drugs, Tikait urged the youth to turn his campaign into a mass movement.…