Farmers Movement Archive

Jharkhand: Congress workers heads to violence-torn Lakhimpur Kheri

RANCHI:: Upping the ante against the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh, several workers from Jharkhand Congress on Wednesday left for violence-torn Lakhimpur Kheri to join to protest against the arrest of AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and express condolences to the kin of the deceased farmers. The Opposition BJP in the state, on the other hand, snubbed the ruling Congress for shedding crocodile tears for farmers at a time when many annadatas in Jharkhand are struggling for basic resources to pursue farming and are awaiting payments in lieu of last year’s paddy procurement. Party’s general secretary Aditya Sahu said, “Congress is resorting to political tourism in UP solely to further its agenda to stoke tension there in the name of farmers .” Around 6pm, at least 250 Congress workers, including two ministers of the Hemant Soren cabinet — Banna Gupta (health) and Badal Patralekh (agriculture) — several MLAs and state Congress president Rajesh Thakur left for Lakhimpur Kheri by road. Violence broke out in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday (October 3) after four farmers were mowed down by a speeding car allegedly linked to Union minister of state (home) Ajay Mishra “Teni”. A total of eight persons, including a few BJP workers had died in the clash thereafter. Mishra’s son, Ashish, was accused of driving the car though he and his father have denied the allegations. None of them have been arrested so far, which the Congress and other opposition parties have already questioned. Talking to TOI, Thakur said, “The Lakhimpur Kheri violence exposed the real face of the BJP government in the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh towards the farmers. But by detaining and arresting members of the Congress who wanted to meet the kin of the deceased farmers, the saffron camp has crossed all limits of violating constitutional norms.” “Since the past 48 hours, our leader Priyanaka Gandhi is in custody, while Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel was not allowed to move out of Lucknow airport where he landed. This shows how rattled the BJP government is in UP. Hence, Jharkhand Congress has now decided to head to UP in solidarity with farmers.” Criticizing BJP’s barb against Congress leaders for trying to fan tension in UP by visiting Lakhimpur Kheri as political opportunism, Poriyahat MLA Pradeep Yadav, who is part of the UP-bound team, said, “We don’t see it as any political opportunity. It is in the DNA of BJP. Congress has been working for the people since ages and when such violence happens, it is only natural for leaders to visit the families to express solidarity. Any movement shapes up in a phased manner, and the ongoing farmers’ movement has been there for the past 10 months against the three farm laws. We will stand by the farmers through thick and thin.” Party spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said the state team will first reach Lucknow on Thursday morning and from there will head to Lakhimpur Kheri. Rakesh Sinha, another party spokesperson, added, “The decision for UP march was taken following directives from the party high command.”

The Times of India

2021-10-07

Ranchi