Lakhimpur Kheri: The United Kisan Morcha is observing the first anniversary of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in Uttar Pradesh in which eight people were killed. Rakesh Tikait, the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, has reached Lakhimpur Kheri. Tikait stayed at Lakhimpur Gurdwara on Sunday night.
Speaking to reporters, Tikait demanded the resignation of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni whose son Ashish Mishra Teni is accused of having run his car into a procession of farmers in Tikunia. Four farmers and a journalist were killed in the incident while three more people were killed in the violence that followed.
Also read: Farmers' stir ends in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri, meeting in Delhi on Sep 6 for next strategy
Tikait said that farmers from all over the country are coming to Tikunia on Monday and will leave for Nighasan in the morning. Tikait will first meet the victims' family in Nighasan where two Dalit sisters were allegedly raped and murdered. Tikait will later leave for Kaudiyala Ghat Gurdwara in Tikunia where he will attend a farmers' panchayat.
A large number of farmers are expected to participate. Ashish Mishra, son of the Union Minister of State for Home and his partner Ankit Das, were lodged in the district jail on charges of crushing the farmers to death. Three BJP workers were also killed by the mob after the incident. Tikait said that he wants justice for the victims.
Meanwhile, Bharati Kisan Union (Doaba) members staged a protest here on Monday and demanded the sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra and withdrawal of "cooked up" cases registered against farmers during their stir against now-repealed agri laws. They attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre over the continuation of Ajay Misra 'Teni' as a minister citing the alleged involvement of his son in mowing down of farmers protesting against the three farm laws that have now been repealed.
Led by BKU(D) vice president Kirpal Singh Moosapur and general secretary Satnam Singh Sahni, the protesters staged demonstration at Sugar mill crossing on national highway here, raised slogans against central government and Misra. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to Phagwara Sub-divisional Additional Deputy Commissioner(ADC) Dr Nayan Jassal.
Addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the memorandum demanded dismissal of Misra from the Cabinet. Sahni said they also demanded through the memorandum withdrawal of "cooked up cases against farmers and immediate release of those in jails". "We also demand government job to the eligible members of the martyred farmers and journalist as promised by government and relief to the injured farmers," he said.
Moosapur alleged that farmers were still waiting for justice even though one year had passed since the incident. Farmers were staging a protest in Tikunia village (UP) on October 3 last year against a visit of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya when four of them were crushed under the wheels of a convoy of cars. In the subsequent violence, four others including two BJP workers and a journalist were killed.
