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All You Need To Know About Lakhimpur Kheri Incident

by TestHostEntry

A murder case has been filed against Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son, Ashish Mishra. Several other people have also been named in the First Information Report (FIR).

Sunday is usually a quite day for the Indian news cycle. But on October 3 i.e. yesterday, there were too many big stories that emerged. In the morning, bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan was arrested by the Narcotics control Bureau (NCB) over possesion of illegal substances on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

As the day progressed, and TV news channels exploited the TRP opportunity, horrific pictures and visuals started coming in from Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri. The news, however, took a while to make it to the idiot box. Meanwhile, social media was full of SOS calls from the farmers who were on ground. Farmers accused Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra, of running over farmers with his car, thereby killing two protestors. This led to a widespread outcry in the northern state, with leaders of political parties announcing that they’ll visit the location and meet families of deceased farmers.

As the day came to an end, the number of deceased from the incident rose to 8, among which 4 were reported to be farmers, one journalist and others were sitting inside the car that drove over the farmers. Farmers also accused that the minister’s son, after running his car over the farmers, shot down a protestor with his gun as he was surrounded by angry mob of farmers. There are also reports of arson, in which visuals of cars set ablaze at the spot were seen.

A murder case has been filed against Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son, Ashish Mishra. Several other people have also been named in the First Information Report (FIR).

It should be noted that the farmers have been protesting for over 10 months against the farm reforms introduced by the Modi government. The farmers believe that the new reforms intend to only help the private players and encourage crony capitalism.

What led to this?

Farmers had assembled in the district to protest against the visit of Mr Mishra and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

The protesters were angry with Mr Mishra over his earlier statement in which he said the protests involved just “10-15 people” and that “it would take just two minutes to make them fall in line”.

“Those people who ask why we didn’t take the farm laws back, change your ways or face us, and we will make you fall in line in two minutes. I am not just a minister or member of parliament. Those who know me, they know that I don’t run away from challenges and the day I take up this challenge, you will to retreat back from not only Ballia but also Lakhimpur. Remember this,” Mr Mishra had said in his speech, which is now doing the rounds on social media.

 

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of the protesting farm unions, said in its statement that the farmers had gathered in the UP district for a “black flag” protest against Deputy Chief Minister Maurya and Union Minister Mishra over “open threat issued against farmer leaders in a public meeting”.

“The brutal attack on farmers is reported to have happened as the farmers were dispersing and leaving from the protest site. Mr Teni’s (union minister) son, uncle and other goons are then reported to have run over the protestors who had lined up on the roads with black flags,” the SKM said in its statement.

In another viral video, union minister Ajay Mishra, while leaving in his car, is reportedly seen making hand gesture towards protestors, which many said intended to tease and work up the farmers.

Khattar’s “incitement” video viral

On the other hand, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is under fire for a video doing the rounds on social media. Mr Khattar, many believe, is seen “inciting” his supporters against the protesting farmers in this video. The video shows Mr Khattar speaking of raising volunteer groups, which, he said, can administer “tit for tat” treatment.

“There are some new farm groups which have emerged recently. We have to support them,” Mr Khattar is heard saying in the video.

“In the north and west Haryana, farmers should raise armed groups… Raise volunteer groups of 500-700-1000 people and pick up sticks and then follow a ‘tit for tat’ policy… Don’t bother about the consequences and if you go behind the bars for this then don’t worry about getting bail. You will come out a big leader,” he added.

 

In the light of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, the opposition has accused Mr Khattar of inciting his supporters to take up “arms” against farmers.

Opposition leaders detained

Two key opposition leaders of Uttar Pradesh тАУ Akhilesh Yadav, chief of Samajwadi party, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, general secretary of All India Congress Committee тАУ have been arrested after they were stopped from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri district.

A video circulating on social media shows that the Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was on her way to the clash site, was arrested in Hargaon today. So far, there is no official statement by the UP police on her arrest.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was today on October 4 arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police from outside his residence in state capital Lucknow where he staged a protest after being stopped from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri.

Political implications for Yogi Adityanath & BJP

Though there has been no statement by the BJP leaders at the centre over Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted about it on Sunday.

“The incident that happened in district Lakhimpur Kheri is very sad and unfortunate. @UPGovt Will go to the bottom of the causes of this incident and expose the elements involved in the incident and take strict action against the culprits,” the Uttar Pradesh CM said.

While informing that high-ranking officials have been sent to the site to investigate the matter, Yogi Adityanath urged citizens: “There is an appeal to all the people of the area not to be misled by anyone and contribute in maintaining peace and order on the spot. Wait for the on-the-spot investigation and action before jumping to any conclusion.”

 

The Uttar Pradesh assembly polls are scheduled next year. All political parties have already started their campaign in the key state, which is very likely to decide the country’s political discourse before crucial 2024 elections. In the middle of that, the Lakhimpur Kheri incident is nothing short of a nightmare for Yogi Adityanath and the saffron party.

The opposition parties including the Congress, SP, BSP, RLD, and AAP have already tried to send their leaders to Lakhimpur Kheri. This, of course, is also an attempt to once again build agitation and public sentiments against the BJP government, which will help these parties politically in the UP Elections as well as in General Elections 2024.

UP government accepts demands

Perhaps, that is the reason why Yogi Adityanath sent his top officials to Lakhimpur Kheri in a short while to discuss the demands of farmers with union leaders.

The farmers and government have reached an agreement that an ex-gratia of Rs 45 lakh each will be given to the victims’ families, a job will be provided to decreased’s kin and a judicial inquiry will be ordered in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

After discussions between officials and farmers’ unions, Rakesh Tikait and UP’s ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar faced the media. Mr Tikait, in presence of Mr Kumar, said the officials accepted that it was a mistake by the minister’s son. “He did stop his convoy even after being stopped, which led to such an unfortunate incident,” Mr Tikait said.

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