Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister SS Randhawa were not allowed to land in Lucknow this morning, Congress sources said in an escalating confrontation with the Uttar Pradesh government over the death of eight, including four farmers, in violence at Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.
An order in Hindi from the UP government to the Lucknow airport said because of the law and order situation over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, the flights of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister should not be allowed to land at Lucknow’s Amausi airport.
Taking to Twitter, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel wrote, “The government of Uttar Pradesh is issuing a decree not to allow me to come to the state. Have civil rights been suspended in Uttar Pradesh? If Section 144 is in Lakhimpur, then why is the dictatorial government stopping you from landing in Lucknow?”
The chief minister and deputy chief minister had announced visiting Lakhimpura Khera today.
Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Randhawa had appealed everyone to maintain peace and said he will ensure the guilty are punished.
The Congress said in a tweet that the UP government move was an insult to the people of Chhattisgarh.
Meanwhile, police took Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav into custody outside his residence in Lucknow where he staged a sit-in protest after being stopped from going to Lakhimpur Kheri.
Earlier today, Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained late last night on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the families of the farmers who were killed.
The Congress had earlier tweeted a video in which Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen in a confrontation with the UP police while being detained on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri. The party said Ms Vadra was being taken to Sitapur Police line and urged people to gather there.
Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrested on way to Lakhimpur from UP’s Hargaon
(With inputs from ANI)
