West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and other opposition leaders condemned the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri, where eight people including four farmers were killed in a very protest against two BJP ministers.
Violence broke out today in Lakhimpur Kheri, where farmers were holding protests since this morning over the visit of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya.
Eight people, including four farmers, were killed within the violence, senior peace officer Arun Kumar Singh said.
A farmers’ union said two of the protesters were ran over by a vehicle within the convoy of the Union Minister. The four others who died were occupants of the vehicle that allegedly ran over the farmers, the officer said.
“I strongly condemn the barbaric incident in Lakhimpur Kheri. The apathy of the BJP towards our farmer brethren pains me deeply. A delegation of 5 Trinamool Congress MPs are going to be visiting the families of the victims tomorrow. Our farmers will always have our unconditional support,” Ms Banerjee, who won a by-election today that guaranteed her continuation as Chief Minister, tweeted this night.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also slammed the BJP. “How much does BJP hate the farmers of the country? Don’t they need the correct to live? If they raise their voice, they’re going to be shot or crushed under a car. Enough. this is often a rustic of farmers not the fiefdom of BJP”s brutal ideology,” she tweeted.
Junior Home Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra has denied his son was present at the world in Lakhimpur Kheri where the incident happened, adding he has video evidence to prove his claim.
Mr Mishra, who is from the world, was holding a function at his village which the Deputy Chief Minister was also purported to attend. The farmers decided to dam their visits over Mr Mishra’s recent speech during which he has dismissed the protests, saying it had been a protest of “10-15 people and it might take just two minutes to create them fall in line”.
Mr Mishra said three BJP workers and a driver were beaten to death by “some elements” among the protesting farmers. “Some elements among the farmers, who were protesting, showed black flags and pelted stones on the car, which overturned. Two farmers came under the car and died. Three BJP workers and also the driver of the car were beaten to death by some people present there.
