News Analysis India

Tag: Violence on protesting farmers

  • Lakhimpur violence: BKU to protest across country tomorrow

    By PTI

    MUZAFFARNAGAR: The Bharatiya Kisan Union on Sunday convened an urgent panchayat here to discuss the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and decided to stage a protest in every district across the country on Monday.

    “The decision was taken during the panchayat held at Sisauli village and presided over by BKU’s national president Naresh Tikait,” the union’s media incharge Dharmendra Malik told PTI over the phone.

    “It has been decided that farmers groups will stage a demonstration outside offices of the district administration in every district,” Malik added.

    During the panchayat, the BKU also resolved to stick to the decision taken by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the anti-farm law protests since November 2020.

    He said a group of over 200 farmers and BKU supporters led by its leader Rakesh Tikait was headed to Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday night.

    Malik, who was also travelling to Lakhimpur, alleged that police in parts of western UP like Moradabad, Pilibhit and Rampur had tried to stop them but somehow they managed to continue their journey.

    “Barriers have been set up on roads at several places and police officers started checking vehicles. We are 200 to 300 people and more are joining us as we move ahead,” he told PTI.

    Eight people were killed on Sunday as violence erupted during a farmers’ protest, claiming the lives of both farmers and BJP workers ahead of a visit to Lakhimpur by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, government officials said.

    Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers in the clash near Banbirpur in Lakhimpur Kheri.

  • UP violence: Punjab CM, parties seeks action against those behind farmers’ death

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday condemned the UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of farmers, leading to violence that claimed eight lives.

    Other political parties in Punjab too demanded the registration of a case against those who “crushed farmers to death.”

    Expressing deep anguish at the tragic incident, Channi said the “ghastly and inhuman act” must be condemned by all in strongest possible words, according to a statement.

    I strongly condemn Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which innocent farmers have lost their lives & share condolences with bereaved families in this hour of grief. I also depute Deputy CM @Sukhjinder_INC & MLA @kuljitnagra1 to ascertain situation & extend all help to aggrieved families
    — Charanjit S Channi (@CHARANJITCHANNI) October 3, 2021
    Channi urged his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, to bring the culprits to the book so as to ensure justice to the victims’ families.

    Eight people were killed on Saturday as violence erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri during a farmers’ protest over Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit.

    Four of the dead were travelling in the vehicles and the remaining four were farmers.

    The farmers had assembled there to oppose Maurya’s visit to Banbirpur, the native village of Union Minister of State for Home and MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.

    The violence broke out after two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters. Farmers alleged that the Union minister’s son was in one of the vehicles, a charge denied by Mishra.

    Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also sought a probe into the incident.

    “Thorough probe needed into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Justice must be ensured for the victims of the violence. Violence or provocation of violence is no solution to any problem,” Amarinder Singh’s media adviser tweeted on behalf of the former Punjab CM.

    Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Harpal Singh, Cheema condemned the incident and said the culprits should be immediately put behind bars.

    He demanded that the farm laws should be repealed immediately.

    Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal demanded immediate registration of a murder case against the son of the Union minister for allegedly crushing farmers to death.

    “It seems the government is trying to protect the son of a Union minister of state, which is shocking and condemnable,” said Badal in a statement.

    The Union Home Ministry should direct the Uttar Pradesh government to provide justice to the families of dead farmers immediately, he said.

    Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu also sought registration of a case against the Union minister’s son.

    No one is above the law … FIR under sec 302 IPC must be registered against Union Minister’s son for murder of innocent farmers, he should be immediately arrested and put behind the bars for this barbaric act !!
    — Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) October 3, 2021
    “No one is above the law … FIR under sec 302 IPC must be registered against Union Minister’s son for murder of innocent farmers, he should be immediately arrested and put behind the bars for this barbaric act !!,” tweeted Sidhu.

    Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa also demanded the registration of a case against the son of the Union minister.

    “All perpetrators including the MoS Home’s son should be booked for murder, for crushing the protesting farmers. Anything less than that would be a gross miscarriage of justice,” said Bajwa in a tweet.

  • Left parties slam BJP over Lakhimpur Kheri violence, say ‘barbarity’ won’t stop farmers’ movement

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Hitting out at the BJP after eight people were killed in violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri during a farmers’ protest, the Left parties on Sunday said such “barbarity” will not stop the movement.

    The violence broke out after two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters who were demonstrating at the Tikonia-Banbirpur road.

    Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers.

    Lakhimpur Kheri District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Chaurasia said four farmers and four others were killed in the incident.

    An Uttar Pradesh government official in Lucknow said four of the dead were travelling in the vehicles.

    The farmers had assembled there to oppose UP Deputy Chief Minister Maurya’s visit to Banbirpur, the native village of Union Minister of State for Home and MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.

    The CPI(M), in a tweet, condemned the incident and said such “barbarity” will not stop the movement.

    Shocking news from Uttar Pradesh!Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son runs over protesting farmers with his car in #LakhimpurKheri. 3 dead.This is the BJP. This is how they treat our Annadatas.Such barbarity will not cow down the #FarmersProtests!#लखीमपुरखीरी https://t.co/efy3uEzNUH
    — CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) October 3, 2021
    “Shocking news from Uttar Pradesh! Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son runs over protesting farmers with his car in Lakhimpur Kheri. Three dead. This is the BJP. This is how they treat our ‘annadatas’ (food providers). Such barbarity will not cow down the farmers’ protests,” it tweeted.

    Union Minister Ajay Mishra, however, has claimed that his son nor he was present at the site when the incident occurred.

    Three BJP workers and a driver were beaten to death by “some elements” in the protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri after a car in which they were travelling turned turtle following pelting of stones, he claimed.

    Mishra told PTI over the phone that two farmers had died after coming under the car.

    CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat said that her party colleagues are going to Lakhimpur Kheri.

    “Our comrades are going. I strongly condemn the incident. It is a shocking example of arrogance and hatred towards the farmers by BJP leaders. Farmers are fighting not for themselves but for India and food security. We stand with the farmers. The killing of four farmers is an unforgivable crime by the BJP government,” she alleged.

    CPI MP Binoy Viswam hit out at the BJP and said that people will take revenge for the “bullets” through the “ballot”.

    “Bullets for peasants, garlands for killers! Modi-Yogi raj is blood-thirsty raj. The people will take revenge on them through ballots. Sometimes ballots of the poor are more powerful than the bullets of the oppressors. Nothing can stop the farmers, They will fight, they will win,” he tweeted.