Samyukt Kisan Morcha calls for nationwide protests today

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for nationwide protests to mark the completion of 11 months of the farmers' movement.

New Delhi:Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for nationwide protests at tehsil and district headquarters from 11 am to 2 pm on Tuesday to mark the completion of 11 months of the farmers' movement. Protests are being held to press the demand for the arrest and dismissal of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

"These protests will end with a memorandum addressed to President Ramnath Kovind, submitted through the District Collectors/Magistrates,"
SKM said in a statement. Eight people, including four farmers, died in the violence that broke out in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on October 3.

Teni's son Ashish Mishra and 12 others were arrested in connection with the incident. Local farmers blamed Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and his son for the violence. They were allegedly knocked down by a vehicle, that was part of the convoy of the Minister in Lakhimpur Kheri in north-central Uttar Pradesh.

Videos are also being circulated on social media where a Mahindra Thar was seen mowing down protesters from behind. However, Ajay Mishra Teni had refuted the allegations stating that his son was not present at the spot when the incident took place.

Ashish reiterated the same and refuted the allegations. Later, several people, including Ashish Mishra, were arrested in the case. SKM also alleged that the Centre did not allow NRI Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, a strong supporter of the farmers' movement, to enter India after he came from Chicago. "He was deported back without being allowed to get into the country. The Indian Government's undemocratic and authoritarian behaviour is unacceptable and we strongly condemn the same," said SKM.