Slamming the BJP government over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said that the government is using politics to mow down the farmers.
While en route to Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh from Lucknow to meet the kin of the victims there, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Today's incident shows that this government is using politics to mow down farmers. This country is a country of farmers, not a fiefdom of BJP ideology."
"I'm not committing any crime by deciding to meet victim's kin...Why are you stopping us? You should have a warrant...?," the Congress leader lashed out at the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government following several instances of being stopped on her way to Lakhimpur.
As many as eight people died in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident on Sunday, said Uttar Pradesh police.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Lakhimpur Kheri Arun Kumar Singh confirmed eight deaths including four farmers and four occupants of the vehicle(s) that allegedly ran over the farmers.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) issued a statement regarding the incident claiming the death of four farmers and alleged that one of the four farmers was shot dead by Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni's son, while the others have been allegedly run over by the vehicles of his convoy.
Commenting on the incident, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had tweeted, "How much does BJP hate the farmers of the country? Don't they have a right to live? If they raise their voice, will you shoot them, will you trample on the car? Enough. This is a country of farmers, not a fiefdom of BJP's brutal ideology. Kisan Satyagraha will be strengthened and the voice of the farmer will be louder."
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has been appointed as AICC senior observer for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, will also be visiting Lakhimpur today.
Samajwadi Party's National President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary and Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar will also visit here.
Meanwhile, refuting SKM's allegations, MoS Teni said that his son was not present at the spot, adding that some miscreants merged with protesting farmers and pelted the stones on the car which lead to the 'unfortunate incident'.
"My son wasn't present at the spot. There were miscreants who attacked workers with sticks and swords. If my son would've been there, he wouldn't have come out alive.
During the Lakhimpur Kheri visit, our workers came to receive us amid farmers' protest. Some miscreants from agitating farmers started stone pelting on the car and injured our driver. Due to this, our car got imbalanced and 2 people died coming under it. After this, our 3 workers were killed and cars were set on fire," Teni toldin a phone call.
"They've killed people and damaged and torched cars. We have video evidence," he added.
He said that "four of our (BJP workers) workers were killed" and asserted that cases under section 302 will be lodged against the culprits.
( With inputs from ANI )
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