Farmers Movement Archive

'Nation awaiting justice in Lakhimpur Kheri violence': Kejriwal tells Modi

Addressing a virtual press conference on Wednesday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre for its “silence” over the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed, on Sunday.The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also called for immediate removal of Union minister of state for home affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra, whose son Ashish was allegedly in the SUV that mowed down the protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri.During the press conference, Kejriwal asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why the culprits involved in the violence were not arrested yet. He also claimed that the government was trying to shield the killers.आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री जी, लखीमपुर घटना को लेकर आज सारा देश न्याय की उम्मीद कर रहा है | Delhi CM Shri @ArvindKejriwal Addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE #JusticeForLakhimpur https://t.co/JlyCQ0SwTC“Why have the accused who ran over the farmers have not been arrested? Why are they being shielded from punishment? The entire nation watched on television how the violence unfolded, how the farmers were run over. It appears as if the entire system is engaged in saving those who are behind the incident despite murdering people in broad daylight and in front of so many people. We have seen such things only in Hindi movies,” Kejriwal said.The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella of farmers' unions, alleged that one of the deceased farmers was shot dead by the minister’s son while the rest were allegedly run over by the vehicles of his convoy. The minister and his son, however, denied the claims even as an FIR has been registered against Ashish.On Tuesday, the Union minister refuted SKM's allegations by saying that his son was not present at the spot, adding he had evidence to prove that Ashish was innocent. The Union minister also said that his son will be ready to face any investigation from the agencies. ALSO READ | What happened in Lakhimpur Kheri: Sequence of events according to both sidesA 29-second video of Sunday’s violence surfaced in which an SUV could be seen ploughing through protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. The SUV reportedly belonged to the convoy of Ajay Kumar Mishra who was travelling to receive Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to an event in the area.While four farmers died after the convoy allegedly mowed down protesters opposing the deputy chief minister’s visit,  the other four people, reportedly BJP members, were allegedly thrashed to death. The farmer leaders claim that Ashish Mishra was in one of the cars which knocked down some protesters.Taking a dig at the government on this, Kejriwal said, “Today, people of this system are saying the vehicle involved in the violence did not have the minister’s son in it. After a week, this system will say there was no car in the incident and another week after that, they will say there were no farmers at the spot! The truth is that we do not have justice here. Today every citizen is demanding justice.”The BJP on Monday claimed that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are “doing politics” under the pretence of farmers' protest. BJP’s IT-cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that SP workers were involved in Sunday’s violence.ALSO READ | Systematic attack on farmers, says Rahul Gandhi; adds will visit Lakhimpur KheriSlamming the NDA government at the Centre further questioned the move by the Uttar Pradesh administration to stop the leaders of opposition political parties from visiting the families of the victims of Lakhimpur Kheri violence.“On one hand we are celebrating ‘Azadi ka Mahotsav’ and on the other hand, opposition leaders are being stopped from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri. They are being put in jails. What kind of independence is this? This is how the British used to act. What is being hidden there, that neither journalists nor opposition leaders are being allowed to visit the area,” Kejriwal said.ALSO READ | UP Police manhandled me, tried to force me into their vehicle: Priyanka GandhiThe Uttar Pradesh government prevented several prominent politicians, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri after the violence.Kejriwal also asked the Prime Minister the reason behind his “hatred” towards the farmers of the country.“The farmers have been demonstrating at state borders over their rightful demand for the past one year. More than 600 of them have died while protesting so far. Now, vehicles belonging to BJP ministers are running over them and crushing them to death. Why do you have so much hatred towards the farmers? What have they done to you,” Kejriwal asked Modi during the press conference.

Hindustan Times

06-10-2021

India