Farmers Movement Archive

Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Take action against accused by October 12 or protests will grow, say farmer groups

LAKHIMPUR: The direction the farmers’ movement in the region will take appears to hinge on the investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, in which four farmers were among eight who died. Lakhimpur Kheri, farmers and farmer leaders told TOI, could turn into a “second Delhi border” with “lakhs” from neighbouring states converging on the area. The deadline they have decided on is October 12, the day the Akhand Paath Bhog, a funerary ritual, will be held for the farmers who died. “If Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni is not sacked and his son Ashish (who has been accused of killing the farmers) not arrested by the 12th, farmers from all neighbouring states will start marching to Lakhimpur Kheri. Lakhs of us, staging blockades, raising our voices,” Harvinder Singh, president of the Uttarakhand unit of the youth wing of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), told TOI. BKU state general secretary, Punjab, Jagmohan Singh told TOI they expect at least 50,000 farmers from other states for the funerary ritual. “Our Sikh and non-Sikh farmers from across the country will gather. They will start two days before the Akhand Paath Bhog and attend the ritual at Kaudiyala Sahib Gurdwara,” he said. “We will stop trains if action is not taken against the minister and his son.” Farmers said the call to congregate has been sent out by Haryana BKU leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni, who was detained in Meerut on his way to Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday and released on Tuesday morning after farmers blocked highways in Haryana. “We have been told to move towards Lakhimpur Kheri instead of the Delhi border at the moment,” a farmer from Khutar in Shahjahanpur said. Protesting farmers said a mahasabha will be held on October 13 if the police “don’t take action” against the accused. “The focus of the farmers’ movement could move to Lakhimpur Kheri,” a farmer leader added. Local intelligence officials said they are on their toes. “We are keeping track of the protests and the farmers most active in the region,” an intelligence official told TOI. “We are working to ensure there are no flare-ups, especially in light of the upcoming assembly election.”

The Times of India

2021-10-09

Bareilly