New Delhi: The BJP leaders in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, exercised caution while commenting on the Lakhimpur Kheri clash where eight persons were killed after a convoy ploughed into the crowd on Sunday.
The BJP-led UP government swiftly announced solatium for the bereaved families besides ordering a judicial inquiry in its bid to deescalate the issue while the Opposition was trying to enter Lakhimpur Kheri to woo the farmers.
BJP national spokesperson, Gopal Krishna Agarwal who termed the incident as very 'unfortunate' told ETV Bharat that the government has already announced a probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri clash. He blamed the Opposition parties for trying to reap the benefit of farmers' anger in this issue. The Yogi Adityanath government has assured that the guilty will not be spared, he said.
"What is the need for protest when the Supreme Court has already put a hold on all three (contentious) farm laws. Towing the apex court's line, the government has suspended the said laws for the time being. The government is ready to talk to farmers. The Yogi government has also announced compensation, but the opposition parties are still looking for their political brownie points," Agarwal said.
Sources said the party's top brass has instructed the state leaders to refrain from making any anti-farmer comments besides suggesting to enumerate the pro-farmer measures the union and the state government has doled out so far. They had warned the seniors that they would face the music in case of deviance. The party leadership also seized of the growing farmers' angst against the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra Teni and his son Ashish Mishra. They are also deliberating as to whether this development would have any bearing in the upcoming elections.
Eight people were killed in the violence that erupted in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday evening. Several farmers were also injured in the car runover incident. The incident happened while anti-farm law protestors gathered in the area to take out a demonstration against the UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya who was scheduled to visit Lakhimpur Keri. BJP MP Varun Gandhi, known for his rebellious voice, has condemned the clash. He had written to the Chief Minister seeking strict action against the culprits.
