Lakhimpur incident: AIKS alleges BJP-RSS conspiracy behind attack on farmers

The All India Kisan Sabha alleged conspiracy by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) behind the attack on farmers. The members and leaders who attempted to stage protest outside Uttar Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi were taken into police custody on Monday.

New Delhi:Hitting out against the policies of the BJP, the All India Kisan Sabha alleged conspiracy by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) behind attacks on farmers. Eight people including four farmers died after three vehicles allegedly rammed into the crowd in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

The leaders and members of All India Kisan Sabha and All India Agriculture Workers Union (AIAWU) also tried to hold a protest outside Uttar Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi but were soon taken into custody by Delhi police, then taken to Mandir Marg Police station and released later on. Addressing the media on the Lakhimpur issue, Kisan Sabha and AIAWU leaders strongly condemned the incident and called it a planned 'conspiracy' to attack agitating farmers.

"Things are going out of control of the government now. Farmers are being killed. In the recent times, such attacks against farmers have increased in several states wherever BJP is in power. In Haryana, one farmer Sushil Kajol was killed, then on August 28, two farmers got killed in Assam. Haryana's chief minister gave an incendiary statement on October 3. These series of events is a conspiracy to suppress the ongoing farmers struggle with direct involvement of the highest leadership of BJP and the RSS," said P Krishna Prasad, finance secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha. Prasad was also held by Delhi Police while protesting outside Uttar Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi.

AIKS demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation for the deceased family, government job to one member of the family as well as compensation for the gravely injured. The farmers' union also criticised govt for not allowing Opposition and farmer leaders to meet the kin of the deceased.

"Don't we have the right to protest peacefully in this country? The Modi government is trying to suppress the farmers' movement by using force. MoS Home Ajay Mishra only a few days ago was seen in a video saying that if given a chance he will teach a lesson to the protesters within two minutes. If an incident happens, all the opposition and farmer leaders have the right to visit and meet the affected families in a democracy," said NK Shukla, joint secretary All India Kisan Sabha.

The leader also demanded the dismissal of MoS Home Ajay Kumar Mishra and a case under section 302 of CRPC be lodged against his son Ashish Mishra who was allegedly part of the cavalcade of three vehicles that rammed into the protesting farmers.

On Sunday, eight people were killed as violence erupted during a farmers' protest over Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit. Four farmers were killed allegedly after three SUVs rammed into protesting farmers. Two SUVs were set on fire by farmers and four members inside the vehicles were also allegedly killed. According to protesting farmers, the Union minister's son allegedly ran his car over anti-farm law protestors.