Farmers’ groups will hold a ‘rail roko’ on October 18 and a mahapanchayat in Lucknow on October 26 to protest the death of eight people, including four farmers, in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.
Farmer leaders on Saturday demanded that Union Minister Ajay Mishra and his son be arrested in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, and said the incident was a pre-planned conspiracy. Ajay Mishra should also be removed from the government as he started this conspiracy and is also protecting the culprits in the case, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Yogendra Yadav alleged during a press conference in New Delhi.
“Ajay Mishra should also be removed from the government as he started this conspiracy and is also protecting the culprits in the case,” Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Yogendra Yadav alleged.
“The incident was part of a pre-planned conspiracy and the attackers tried to terrorise farmers, farmer leader Darshan Pal said.
Farmers claimed that Ashish Mishra was in one of the vehicles, an allegation denied by him and his father who say they can produce evidence to prove he was at an event at that time.
“Farmers from across the country will reach Lakhimpur Kheri on October 12… what happened there was no less than the Jallianwala Bagh and we request all civic organisations to take out candle marches in their cities at 8 pm (on October 12),” Yogendra Yadav said today.
He also said that the SKM on October 15, which is Dusshera, will burn the effigies of leaders to protest against the violence.
Police questioned the minister’s son on Saturday but he had not been arrested till the time of filing this report. The minister and his son have denied any involvement.
Farmers in several states are on year-long protests against three new agricultural laws that seek to liberalise farm trade in the country. One law is meant to allow big businesses and supermarkets to buy produce from farmers outside regulated state-backed wholesale markets.
Also Read: CM Yogi Adityanath said on Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, ‘No arrest will be done without evidence’
A second law seeks to allow private traders to stockpile large quantities of food for future sales. A third law lays down a framework for contract farming.
The government has said the changes were necessary to boost investment and raise farm incomes, but farm unions say the new laws will leave them at the mercy of big corporations.
(With inputs from agencies)
