Mumbai (Maharashtra): The Sena on Tuesday through its editorial mouthpiece 'Saamna' titled 'Death of farmers!' has taken a jibe at PM Modi for not having uttered a word despite eight farmers losing their lives in the violence that broke out on Sunday in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri. Saamna further termed it surprising to see the PM who has been vociferous on several other issues continuing to remain mum.
"The four pillars on which Hindustan rests has been hollowed out by the termites of fear and panic. Day by day such incidents are happening in the country and hence there is a concern about democracy. In the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, a reprehensible incident of agitating farmers being crushed to death by a speeding vehicle has occurred. Our dear Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is a very sensitive and emotional person. He understands pain, humanity and the rights of the poor. Hence, many times people have seen Prime Minister Modi shedding tears in public. However, it is astonishing to see the PM not having spoken about the incident," the Sena mentioned in its editorial.
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"When BJP leaders in Maharashtra had earlier reached out to wipe the tears of distressed farmers of Marathwada, Vidarbha, no one stopped them, but the farmers of Uttar Pradesh were crushed to death. The opposition, farmer leaders are not being allowed to visit the district. Killing farmers and suppressing political opponents, is this a democracy? Had this crime been committed by the son of a Union minister in another state, the BJP would have made it a huge issue," Saamna stated.
On Sunday, eight people were killed as violence erupted during a farmers' protest over Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit. Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers after they hit a group of protesters. Four of the dead were travelling in the vehicles and the remaining two were farmers, sources said. According to protesting farmers, the Union minister's son had allegedly run his car over anti-farm law protestors.
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The incident triggered a political controversy with several parties lambasting UP CM Yogi Adityanath for the unfortunate incident in which several farmers were killed. The state government on Monday had also announced Rs 45 lakh ex-gratia and jobs to the families of four farmers who died in the violence, adding that the injured will be given Rs 10 lakhs.
Several politicians who were en route to the violence-hit district to visit the kin of the victims there were stopped on Monday. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee in charge of Uttar Pradesh, was detained en route to UP's Lakhimpur Kheri.
