Lakhimpur Violence: SKM Warns Centre, UP Govt Over Resuming Protest If MoS Ajay Mishra Not Sacked By Monday

The farmer unions had said that if the government does not accept their demands by October 11, they will take out a ‘Shaheed Kisan Yatra’ from Lakhimpur Kheri with the ashes of the farmers who died.

Representative Photo: PTI

New Delhi: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha 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.

This comes after the SKM had issued an ultimatum earlier this week, asking the government to act against MoS Home Ajay Mishra by October 11.

“Justice clearly getting compromised because Ajay Mishra is in a minister's post in the Union government,” SKM wrote in a statement, as reported news agency PTI.

“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 added.

Union minister Ajay Mishra’s son, who was arrested in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days and placed under COVID quarantine in the district jail in Lakhimpur Kheri, officials informed on Sunday.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha is an umbrella body of 40 farmer unions spearheading the anti-farm laws agitation. 

“Planning, meetings are happening in various states to implement SKM call for action for justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri farmers massacre,” SKM’s statement read.

The farmer unions’ body commented that Ajay Mishra, continuing as a minister in the Modi government that too for Home Affairs, is completely “untenable and inconceivable”.

“It is clear that the MoS Home had a role to play in promoting enmity and disharmony, in criminal conspiracy and murder, as well as in harbouring offenders and trying to obstruct justice and to tamper with/conceal evidence,” the SKM claimed.

The farmer unions had said that if the government does not accept their demands by October 11, they will take out a ‘Shaheed Kisan Yatra’ from Lakhimpur Kheri with the ashes of the farmers who died.

It also gave 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.

Four of the eight people who died in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence were farmers, allegedly knocked down by a vehicle carrying BJP workers. Angry farmers then allegedly lynched some people in the vehicles.

The other dead included two BJP workers and their driver.

Farmers claim that Ashish Mishra was in one of the vehicles, an allegation denied by him and his father.

(With Agency Inputs)