Farmers Movement Archive

Thousands start gathering for 4 farmers’ final rites in Lakhimpur Kheri

BAREILLY: A funeral ritual for the four farmers who died in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence will on Tuesday mark the beginning of a protest seeking the resignation of Union minister Ajay Mishra and his interrogation by the SIT. Thousands have started gathering in Lakhimpur Kheri for the Akhand Paath Bhog ritual at Banbirpur where, less than a kilometre from the site of the killings, they will meet after the prayer ceremony. A 25-acre farmland has been cleared out for Tuesday’s protest meeting. On Monday, president of Bhartiya Sikh Sangathan Jasbir Singh Virk was overseeing preparations for what they plan as a massive gathering. “Arrangements are in place to host one lakh farmers,” he told TOI. By evening, thousands from Bhartiya Kisan Union and Sikh Kisan Morcha had started arriving in Lakhimpur Kheri. The farmers had initially been asked to assemble at Kaudiyala Gurdwara but “to avoid controversies at a religious site,” the venue was moved. Only the prayer meet will be at the gurdwara now. “Prayers will be offered for my brother as well,” said Pawan, brother of journalist Raman Kashyap who had also died that day. Farmer leaders had earlier said Kashyap, too, would be counted among “martyrs” of the farmers’ movement. After the protest meeting, farmers will hold an Asthi Kalash Yatra, marching with the ashes of the four farmers to “wherever the families want to immerse them.” As the numbers swelled, heavy security was deployed at Kheri. ADG (Lucknow zone) SN Sabat, IG (Lucknow) Laxmi Singh and Lucknow commissioner Ranjan Kumar, along with 7 other IPS officers, are overseeing the law and order arrangements. “We have had meetings with Sikh leaders and requested them to stage the protest at gurdwaras of their areas instead of marching towards Kheri because it could create a law and order problem. Many have accepted our request … As of now, most farmers who have turned up in the district are from Uttarakhand. We are keeping an eye on the numbers,” said a senior official from the administration. Farmer leaders said they are prepared for the pushback. “It seems the state may stop farmers from getting here. We had given time to the state to take action against the minister and his son,” Virk said. “But the minister has not been sacked. He had threatened farmers protesting against the farm laws before hundreds of people. The video went viral. A jeep registered in his name killed farmers. But nothing has been done. We will plan our further action after the Akhand Paath Bhog.”

The Times of India

2021-10-12

Bareilly