UP Violence: All parties are permitted to visit Lakhimpur; but only five people will be allowed.
Congress's Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met two families in Lakhimpur Kheri, whose loved ones died on Sunday, run over by an SUV allegedly driven by Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son. The Supreme Court will hear the matter on Thursday.
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"Families are not satisfied with the post mortem reports. They want action against the culprit. They need justice. Everyone knows who is the accused," said Rahul Gandhi, who was accompanied by party leaders including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his Punjab counterpart Charanjit Channi. "They are not being arrested as their father is Union Minister of State for Home. We have come here to pressurise and ensure justice is served to these families," he added.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, lodged at a guest house in Sitapur since her arrest on Monday, was released to join the Congress team, which met the families of 19-year-old Lovepreet Singh and Raman Kashyap, the 30-year-old local journalist who also died that day. "These families don't want compensation, they want justice. It can't be possible unless Ajay Mishra resigns as Minister of State for Home. Impartial probe is not possible under him. If they can arrest us without an FIR, why can't they arrest Ashish Mishra," she said.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the events in Lakhimpur Kheri and the matter will be heard on Thursday by a bench led by Chief Justice NV Ramana.
Earlier, junior home minister Ajay Mishra met his boss, Amit Shah, amid opposition demands for his dismissal. Top government sources ruled out the possibility of his resignation, saying he has clarified that he and his son were not present. "Let a full investigation take place," a source said.
Rahul Gandhi had a face-off with the UP police when he landed in Lucknow airport over transport arrangements. Mr Gandhi refused to take the route or transport suggested by the police, saying, "Who are you to arrange my transport? I want to leave in my car".
AAP leaders Harpal Cheema, Raghav Chadha and others have met the relatives of the Nachhatar Singh, who also died. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has spoken to the family on phone.
All parties are permitted to visit Lakhimpur, but only five people will be allowed, the Uttar Pradesh administration said. Opposition parties have been clamouring to visit Lakhimpur since Sunday, but the state police did not allow anyone, citing law and order situation.
Three of the farmers who died on Sunday were cremated yesterday. The fourth farmer, Gurvinder Sngh, who was allegedly shot by Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Misra, was cremated after a second post-mortem examination.
Four people died on Sunday after a vehicle mowed down farmers who were protesting against the visit of the Union minister and the state's Deputy Chief Minister Kehsav Maurya. Another four were killed in the violence and arson that followed.
Though Ajay Mishra has admitted the SUV belonged to him, he said he and his son were not present at the spot. His son Ashish Mishra has not been questioned or arrested by the police.
