Lakhimpur Kheri Row: Samyukt Kisan Morcha announces nationwide rail blockade on Oct.18

Samyukt Kisan Morch (SKM), a group of over 40 farmers organisations, announced a series of protests across the country if their two demands are not met by the government. Immediate dismissal of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni from the cabinet and arrest of his son Ashish Mishra and his aides. The farmers' union will mark October 12 as 'Shaheed Kisan Diwas' and for a candlelight vigil in memory of victims of Lakhimpur Kheri violence

New Delhi: Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a group of over 40 farmers organisations, on Saturday announced a nationwide rail blockade on 18 October from 10am to 4pm in solidarity with the victims of Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Besides, the farmers' union will mark October 12 as 'Shaheed Kisan Diwas' across the country.

The union said, "It is an appeal to all the just citizens of the country to light five candles in the memory of the five martyrs outside their houses on that evening."

The union said that it will respond to 'Lakhimpur Kheri massacre' through a peaceful and democratic mass-movement and made two demands citing the UP government's lacklustre attitude towards the incident: Immediate dismissal of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni from the cabinet and arrest of his son Ashish Mishra (Monu), and his partners in crime Sumit Jaiswal and Ankit Das.

The union has outlined a wide range of threatened to intensify the nationwide protests if the demands are not met by October 11.

SKM appealed to the farmers of Uttar Pradesh to attend the Antim Ardas Bhog, a funeral ritual, on ​​October 12 at Tikonia, Lakhimpur Kheri. It also urged farmers from across the country to pay tribute to farmers who lost their lives in Lakhimpur Kheri. After this, Shaheed Kisan Yatra will begin with the mortal remains or bones of the farmers. This rally will be held across the state carrying separate asthi kalash for each district which culminate at a holy or historical place in each location.

The union also urged farmer organisations to organise special prayer meetings or tribute meetings for martyr farmers at their respective places on that day at gurudwara, temple, mosque, church or any public place or toll plazas. Candle marches should be organised on that day in the evening.

The union also has some protest plans on the occasion of Dussehra, on October 15. "We will burn the effigies of anti-farmer BJP government symbolised by Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and local leaders," it added.

On 26 October, a 'Mahapanchayat' will be organsied in Lucknow condemning the Lakhimpur incident.