Farmers Movement Archive

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin, BJP’s Khushbu Sundar slam UP's Lakhimpur incident

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin, BJP’s Khushbu Sundar and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Tuesday condemned Lakhimpur Kheri incident in Uttar Pradesh, which claimed the lives of nine people including a journalist. Stalin demanded “an impartial, high-level investigation” into the death of the farmers and also condemned the arrest of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi when she went to meet the victims’ families. He tweeted, “The attack on the farmers protesting against the farm laws is highly condemnable and I demand an impartial, high-level investigation into the death of farmers. Perpetrators of this cruel act must be punished legally.” The incident took place on October 3 when a couple of SUVs in Union minister of state Ajay Mishra’s convoy ploughed through protesting farmers. They had gathered to show black flags to the Union minister as part of the anti-farm-law protest. “Opposition leaders including @priyankagandhi (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra), who tried to meet the farmers, are detained. They shall be freed and allowed to exercise their democratic rights,” he said and added that the Union government should not remain apathetic to the concerns of the farmers. It should not allow such untoward incidents to happen. It should realise that repealing three farm laws is the only way to restore normalcy and peace, he tweeted. When her party functionaries maintained silence over the incident, BJP’s Khushbu Sundar registered her protest. She tweeted, “A vehicle mowing down eight protesters in UP is unacceptable and a grave crime. Whoever is responsible for this must be booked and taken to task, irrespective of who this person is. Nothing matters more than human lives. Humanity is the essence of this country.” Thirumavalavan came down heavily on the UP government for “illegal arrest” of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, who was on her way to meet the victims’ families and the protesting farmers. The VCK leader has also posted the video of the SUVs ploughing through the protesting farmers and termed it as BJP’s ruthlessness. He also tweeted that the Modi government should take responsibility for the incident and demanded that the farm laws be withdrawn. The VCK would organise a protest in Chennai on October 8 to condemn the killings of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, he said.

The Times of India

2021-10-06

Chennai