Farmers protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws will observe ‘Shaheed Kisan Diwas’ on Tuesday to pay tribute to the four farmers who died in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident,’ the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said in a statement on Monday.
“On SKM’s request, the 12th of October (tomorrow) will be observed as Shaheed Kisan Diwas throughout India.” The ‘antim ardaas’ of the martyrs of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre will take place tomorrow at Sahebjada Inter College in Tikunia. Preparations are being made for this, and tens of thousands of farmers are expected to attend,” said SKM. SKM is a federation of approximately 40 farmer organizations.
SKM has urged farmer organizations and progressive groups across the country to mark the occasion by holding prayer and homage meetings, followed by candlelight vigils in the evening. It has asked residents to light five candles outside their homes at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
This comes as Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), arrived at Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri to attend the ‘antim ardas’ (final prayer) ceremony for the four farmers and journalist Raman Kashyap, who were among eight killed. The ceremony will take place at the Sahebjada Inter College on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
The farmers’ organization expressed dissatisfaction with the government for failing to take action against Union minister and BJP MP Ajay Mishra, whose vehicle allegedly ran over the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. “It is a disgrace on the part of the Modi government that Ajay Mishra Teni has not yet been fired.” “It was his vehicles in the convoy that killed innocent people,” said the SKM.
Since November 2020, thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi’s borders, demanding that the government repeal the three new farm laws, which they claim leave them at the mercy of large corporations.
Priyanka Gandhi to attend farmers’ final prayers in Lakhimpur Kheri today
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will travel to Lakhimpur Kheri on Tuesday to attend the “antim ardas (final rites)” prayers for the protesting farmers who were mowed down earlier this month in the Uttar Pradesh district.
According to NDTV, “Rahul Gandhi Go Back, Priyanka Gandhi Go Back” banners were spotted along the highway. While some of the banners mentioned who put them up, others appeared to have only hazy information about this.
All banners took shots at Congress, claiming that “people” don’t want “fake sympathy.”