Eight people were slain in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, four of whom were farmers when a scuffle erupted over the presence of two ministers. This protest marked a major escalation of their 10-month-long agitation over contentious new regulations ahead of state elections early next year.
So far, here’s what we know:
Farmers who had banded together to prevent Union Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya’s visit alleged the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district began after their car mowed down demonstrators.
“The farmers intended to gherao the helipad in order to prevent the ministers from arriving. After that, while most people were on their way back, three automobiles arrived… and mowed down the farmers… one farmer died on the spot, and another was taken to the hospital “Dr. Darshan Pal, a farmer’s union official, added that the minister’s son was in the car.
Ajay Mishra, Union Minister of State, has denied that his son was involved in the violence. “My son was not present at the time of the incident. Workers were attacked with sticks and swords by miscreants. My son would not have survived if he had been present “Mr. Mishra, the junior Home Minister, was reported by news agency ANI as saying.
“They waved black flags and threw stones at the upturned automobile. Two farmers were killed when they were hit by an automobile. Some individuals beat to death three BJP employees and the car driver “According to the news agency Press Trust of India, he said.
The minister also stated that video evidence of the violence is available. He further claimed that the mishap was not the responsibility of the party workers who had gathered to greet the ministers at the improvised helipad.
According to farmer unions, four farmers were killed and six others were injured after being hit by a car.
Farmers had gathered to protest the two ministers’ arrival, enraged by Mr. Mishra’s recent address. Mr. Mishra dismissed the agricultural legislation protests late last month, saying it was a protest of “10-15 individuals and it would take about two minutes to make them fall in line.”
Yogi Adityanath, the state’s chief minister, called the incident “unfortunate.” “We will thoroughly investigate the reasons, and harsh action will be taken against the culprits. We appeal to everyone to keep the peace “He stated this in a statement. Lakhimpur Kheri has a considerable police presence, and internet services have been suspended.
On Sunday night, farmer leader Naresh Tikait convened an emergency meeting in Sisoli to discuss the next steps. Chandrasekhar Azad and his Bhim Army are on their approach to Lakhimpur Kheri.
The violence has been criticized by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and Kapil Sibal, as well as other opposition leaders.
Priyanka Gandhi of the Congress, who was on her way to meet the families of the farmers killed, was stopped and denied entry to Lakhimpur Kheri.
PM Modi visits Lucknow: Slams SP, remains silent on Lakhimpur Kheri violence
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Lucknow to kick off the ‘Azadi@75-New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape’ conference and expo. The prime minister’s visit came at a time when Uttar Pradesh, particularly the state’s Lakhimpur Kheri area, was on the boil following the deaths of eight people, including four farmers, in a violent incident during protests on Sunday.
During his speech in Lucknow, Prime Minister Modi made no mention of the agricultural protests or the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri. Instead, Narendra Modi decided to criticize the Samajwadi Party’s shortcomings while in power.
According to Modi, the previous administration authorized Rs 18,000 crore for the construction of homes in Uttar Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana before 2017, but just 18 units were completed. The Yogi Adityanath government, on the other hand, has finished 9 lakh residences under the plan, with another 14 lakh under construction, according to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister’s remarks come one day after Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, was held by Uttar Pradesh police after staging a sit-in rally outside his home after being denied permission to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. On social media, videos of the Samajwadi Party supremo being arrested went viral.
Murder case filed against Union minister’s son in Lakhimpur
A murder charge has been filed against Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son for allegedly running a car over farmers protesting in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri.
The Union minister, however, has denied that his son, Ashish Mishra, was involved in the violence.
“My son was not present at the time of the incident. Workers were attacked with sticks and swords by miscreants. My son would not have survived if he had been present “Mr. Mishra, the junior Home Minister, was reported by news agency ANI as saying. “My son was present at the venue of the (Deputy Chief Minister’s) event… I was accompanying the deputy chief minister the entire time,” he explained.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been granted permission to visit Lakhimpur Kheri
On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh administration gave Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, as well as three others, permission to visit the violence-stricken Lakhimpur Kheri.
The leaders of Congress have been attempting to meet with the bereaved. While Rahul Gandhi was refused permission to head a five-member team as a result of Section 144, his sister, Congress national secretary, and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was arrested late Monday.
“Five Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have been granted permission to visit Lakhimpur,” said Navneet Sehgal, Additional Chief Secretary, Information.
Since Monday morning, Priyanka Gandhi has been detained at the PAC complex in Sitapur. When she was stopped, she was on her way to see the relatives of farmers slain in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.
Officials in Sitapur are going to shut down the internet for 12 hours on Wednesday because of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence
The Uttar Pradesh government announced on Wednesday that the internet will be shut off in Sitapur for twelve hours on Wednesday. This news comes as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi prepares to visit Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the families of the eight persons killed by an SUV on Sunday, including four protesting farmers.
According to the Hindustan Times, the Congress stated that internet connections were blocked earlier today in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur area, where party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was held.
The Congress stated in a tweet, “The UP government, scared, has turned off the internet in Sitapur, where Smt. @priyankagandhi has been detained unlawfully for over 48 hours. The BJP’s authoritarian leadership at the federal and state levels is attempting to silence the opposition. They will fail miserably. We are not going to back down.”