Rakesh Tikait welcomed the support from international artistes and activists, including Rihanna and Greta Thunberg

Ghaziabad: Rakesh Tikait, the 51-year-old Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader from the hinterlands of Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh, welcomed the support from international artistes and activists, including Rihanna and Greta Thunberg, but acknowledged he does not know them.

Talking to the media at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Thursday, Tikait, who is credited with reviving the agitation that appeared to be flagging after the January 26 violence in Delhi, sought to know who these people were.

Farmers' protest"Who are these foreign artistes?" Tikait said exhibiting unawareness when asked about the foreigners supporting the farmers' movement.

When informed about American pop-singer Rihanna, adult star Mia Khalifa and Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, the Sisauli-born Tikait responded: "They may have supported us, but I don't know them."

Rihanna, Greta Thunberg"If some foreigner is supporting the movement, then what is the problem. They are not giving us or taking anything away from us," he said.