Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi Monday asked the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take stringent action against the culprits in the Lakhimpur violence incident case. He also suggested a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe in a time-bound manner in the case. The MP from Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit also said that Rs 1 crore compensation should be given to families of victims.
In a letter addressed to Yogi, Gandhi has said that the heart-wrenching incident of brutally crushing the protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3, caused anguish and anger among the citizens of the whole country. He also said that the incident took place the day after the whole nation celebrated the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the preacher of non-violence. The incident in which the farmers were killed the next day of Gandhi Jayanti is unforgivable.
"The agitating farmers are our own citizens. If they are facing issues and are protesting under their democratic rights, then we should deal with them with great restraint and patience. In any case, we should treat our farmers with sensitivity and only in a Gandhian and democratic way within the ambit of the law," he wrote.
Varun Gandhi further wrote that while paying tribute to the farmers who were martyred in this incident, I express my condolences to their families.
"I request you to immediately identify all the suspects involved in this incident and take the strictest action by registering a murder case under Section 302 of the IPC, "Gandhi added.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel reacting to the incident has said that the way farmers have been treated shows the mentality of the government. He also said that the incident is proof that if you stand against the government, you will be crushed.
Eight people were killed in the violence that erupted in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday evening. Several farmers were injured in the alleged car runover incident. The incident happened while anti-farm law protestors gathered in the area to take out a demonstration against UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya who was scheduled to visit the district. Protesting farmers alleged that Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son allegedly ran his car over anti-farm law protestors.
After the incident, several opposition leaders tried to meet the families of farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri who were however stopped by the security agencies.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S S Randhawa and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi were among those prevented from going to the state.
Condemning the incident, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the unlawful detention of opposition leaders is against democratic values and only a dictator government can do this. "Only a dictator government can do this. Does the ruling BJP in UP want to end democracy? In this way, the violation of civil rights is also against the spirit of the Constitution," he said.
READ: Congress claims Priyanka Gandhi arrested en route to UP's Lakhimpur Kheri
