Hours after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police on her way to meet the families of the four farmers killed in violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and other MLAs were also detained while trying to reach the UP district.
Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the district after violence on Sunday over a visit by Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra and UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya. A murder case has been filed against Mr Mishra's son and several others over the violence.
The farmers, who had assembled to stop the visit of the Union Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya, said the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri started after one of the cars in the ministers' convoy mowed down the protesters. Visuals from the area showed arson and vehicles set on fire.
This morning, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police as she headed to meet the families of four farmers killed in the violence. "I am not important than the people you have killed. The government you are defending. You give me a legal warrant, a legal basis or else I will not move from here and you won't touch me," a visibly agitated Congress leader, surrounded by policemen, is heard saying in a video when her convoy is stopped at Sitapur.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said he was "saddened" by the violence in his state that left eight people, including four farmers, dead. He promised strict action against those responsible following an investigation and made an appeal to maintain peace.
Here are the Highlights on UP Lakhimpur Kheri violence:
Oct 04, 2021 22:42 (IST)
LIVE: Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Chaudhary Says PM Must Sack Minister Ajay Mishra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi must sack Union minister Ajay Mishra over the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri which left eight people dead, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary demanded on Monday after meeting families of the victims in the village. Mr Chaudhary also claimed the villagers told him during the meeting that the violence appeared "pre-meditated" and hoped the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath "does not prosecute farmers".
Oct 04, 2021 22:24 (IST)
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Delegation To Visit Lakhimpur Kheri
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Bibi Jagir Kaur on Monday said she has decided to send an SGPC delegation to Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh to meet the family of victim farmers, reported PTI. "A delegation is being sent by the SGPC to Uttar Pradesh to enquire into the matter and get the details of the case from the families of the victims. The delegation will submit its report to the Akal Takht," she said. Ms Kaur said the delegation would include SGPC's executive committee members Ajmer Singh Khera and Amrik Singh Shahpur, among others.
Oct 04, 2021 22:05 (IST)
LIVE: Union Minister Says "Don't Politicise Lakhimpur Kheri Incident"
The Uttar Pradesh government is conducting a fair investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, said Union Minister of State (MoS) for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore on Monday, adding the incident should not be exaggerated or politicised, reported ANI.
"The Uttar Pradesh government is conducting a fair investigation into this. The Opposition should also support us in this and no one should give provoking statements till the truth comes out. It should not be exaggerated or politicised," the MoS told ANI.
Oct 04, 2021 18:00 (IST)
Live: Congress' Bhupinder Hooda Demands Judicial Inquiry Into UP Violence
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has demanded a judicial inquiry under a sitting judge, into the death of eight persons, including four farmers, in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, reported ANI.
Mr Hooda, who is also the former chief minister of Haryana, urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take "stringent and immediate" action against those police personnel who allegedly "manhandled" party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Deepender Singh Hooda when they were on their way to meet the kin of the victims in Lakhimpur Kheri.
"The way farmers have been crushed under the car inhumanly is not accepted in a democracy. In a democracy, everybody has a right to protest. There should be a judicial inquiry under a sitting judge. Justice should be served to the victims. The right amount of compensation should also be given. After the judicial inquiry everything will be clear," Mr Hooda said.
