Farmers Movement Archive

Priyanka Gandhi to PM Modi: Don’t share dais with minister Teni if you care for farmers

LUCKNOW: A day after calling the repeal of farm laws motivated by fear to lose elections, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday asked PM Narendra Modi not to share the dais with Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni at the DGPs conference since Teni’s son is the prime accused in the killing of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. “If your sentiments for farmers are true, then please do not share the stage with your minister of state for home and dismiss him from his post,” she said. Priyanka also demanded withdrawal of cases lodged against farmers across the country and sought financial aid for the families of farmers who died during the year-long protests against the farm laws. The Congress leader made the appeal to the PM through a letter that she read out in front of reporters at her Lucknow residence on Saturday. PM Modi is in Lucknow to participate in the top cops meet where Teni may share the stage with him. “Yesterday, while addressing the countrymen, you had said that with true mind and pious heart and keeping in mind the interests of the farmers, an unprecedented decision to repeal the farm laws was taken. If this is true, then getting justice delivered to the families affected by the Lakhimpur Kheri violence should be your top priority,” Priyanka stated in the letter. She further said that Teni can influence the probe into Kheri killings. She also mentioned that she had met the families of Kheri victims and said they were in immense pain. “They only want justice and justice is not possible as long as Ajay Mishra remains a minister,” she stated in the letter noting that to ensure justice to every citizen is not only the duty of the prime minister but also his moral responsibility. Cong tributes to dead farmers: Terming the repeal of the three farm laws as victory for farmers, the Congress observed ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ on Saturday. The party also organised a small ceremony at the UPCC headquarters in Lucknow to pay homage to the farmers who died during the protests against the farm laws. UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu said despite more than 700 farmers losing their lives during the year-long agitation, PM Narendra Modi has not paid tribute to them. “The annadata (farmers) have been humiliated by names such as ‘andolanjivi’, ‘Khalistani’, ‘mavali’ by the ruling government. Their humiliation is historic,” Lallu said. Priyanka has run out of issues: rebel Cong MLA: Rebel Congress MLA Aditi Singh attacked Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over the latter’s letter to the PM. “Be it the Lakhimpur violence or any other issue, Priyanka Gandhi has always politicised it. CBI probe is underway into the Lakhmipur incident and the Supreme Court is taking cognisance of it. If she doesn’t trust the institutions, I wonder whom she trusts,” Aditi said

The Times of India

2021-11-21

Lucknow