Lakhimpur Case: Farmers To Observe ‘Shaheed Kisan Diwas’ On Tuesday, SKM Calls For Intensifying Protest

Samyukt Kisan Morcha expressed its disappointment over inaction against Union MoS (Home) Ajay Mishra, whose vehicle allegedly ran over the farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri.

Representative Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Farmers protesting against the three contentious farm laws will observe ‘Shaheed Kisan Diwas’ on Tuesday to pay tribute to the four farmers who lost their lives in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence on October 3.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 farm unions, issued a statement appealing to farmer organisations and progressive groups across the country to mark the occasion by organising prayer and homage meetings all over the country, followed by candlelight vigils in the evening.

October 12th (tomorrow) will be marked as Shaheed Kisan Diwas all over India on SKM's call. Tomorrow, the 'antim ardaas' of the martyrs of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre will take place in Tikunia at Sahebjada Inter College. Preparations are being made for the same and tens of thousands of farmers are expected to join this prayer meeting, a statement said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

The SKM urged people to light five candles outside their houses at 8 pm on Tuesday.

SKM Calls To Burn BJP Leaders’ Effigies On Dussehra

The organisation also expressed its disappointment over inaction against Union MoS (Home) Ajay Mishra, whose vehicle allegedly ran over the farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri.

It is shameful on the part of the Modi government that Ajay Mishra Teni has not been sacked yet. It was his vehicles that were in the convoy that killed innocent people, the SKM stated.

It added that farmers will mark Dussehra by burning effigies of BJP leaders on October 15.

The farmers’ union stressed that the protest actions are not against any religion or faith, as the “call for action on October 15 is in the spirit of Dussehra, of good triumphing over evil”, news agency ANI reported. 

SKM claimed that Union MoS Ajay Mishra Teni had sought to promote enmity, hatred and disharmony through his earlier speech against minority Sikhs of the Terai region.

It also reiterated that the farmers’ movement cannot be dissipated or weakened by “BJP-RSS playing their communal card” and that farmers of the country are united in their struggle.

This comes after Samyukt Kisan Morcha had on Sunday “warned” the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government that the deadline to sack and arrest Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra ends on Monday failing which the body will begin phase-wise protests against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

“The SKM warns the Government of India and Uttar Pradesh government that time is running out on the deadline of October 11 given by it. Ajay Mishra's arrest and dismissal are awaited in addition to arrests of all culprits in Lakhimpur Kheri farmers' massacre,” it wrote in a statement.

The farmer unions have also given a call for a ‘rail roko’ protest across the country from 10 AM to 4 PM on October 18 and a ‘maha panchayat’ in Lucknow on October 26.