Lucknow: Lakhimpur violence that claimed the lives of eight people, among which four were farmers has erupted protests across Punjab. Protesters have gathered at district headquarters in Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Barnala and Bathinda on the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 32 farmer unions spearheading the agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws since last year.
The SKM has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, demanding the dismissal of Union Minister, Ajay Mishra Teni from the Union Council of Ministers and the setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of the Supreme Court into the killing of the four farmers.
Farmers owing allegiance to the SKM protested outside the deputy commissioner’s office in Amritsar from 10am to 1.30pm, while police kept a tight vigil.
Farmers supporting the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) tried to engulf the house of BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh near Hathi Gate in Amritsar, but police foiled the bid and put up barricades where they raised slogans against the Centre and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
“We will intensify our agitation against the Centre,” said KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher, who was leading the protesters.
Manjit Singh of BKU (Ugrahan) criticized the Yogi government from preventing farmers and political leaders from visiting the site of the violence.
What happened in Lakhimpur Kheri?
According to media reports, eight people, four of which were farmers were killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri after violence erupted over a visit by Mishra and UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya.
A murder case has been filed against Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son, Ashish Mishra and several others over Sunday’s violence in Lakhimpur Kheri. The farmers who were present to curb the visit of the Union Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya, said the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district started after one of the cars in the ministers’ convoy mowed down the protesters. Visuals from the area showed arson and vehicles set on fire.
This morning, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police as she headed to meet the families of four farmers killed in the violence. “I am not important than the people you have killed. The government you are defending. You give me a legal warrant, a legal basis or else I will not move from here and you won’t touch me,” a visibly agitated Congress leader, surrounded by policemen, is heard saying in a video when her convoy is stopped at Sitapur.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
