Rahul Gandhi Attacks Centre & UP Govt, Calls Lakhimpur Violence 'Systematic Attack On Farmers'

Rahul Gandhi Press Conference: He criticized the government on Lakhimpur violence saying that it was a 'Systematic attack on farmers.' Details below.

Rahul Gandhi addressing a press conference in New Delhi. (File Photo)

Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference just before leaving for Lakhimpur Kheri. He has decided to go ahead and meet the families of those who were died in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, despite not getting permission.

He criticized the government on Lakhimpur violence saying that it was a 'Systematic attack on farmers.'

The Uttar Pradesh government has denied permission to a 5 member delegation led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to enter the Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday in wake of section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). 

Rahul Gandhi, in reply, said that only three of them are going to visit Lakhimpur and the section 144 cannot stop him from doing so. 

"Farmers are being mowed down by a jeep, they're being murdered, the name of a union minister & his son is coming up in this incident. Yesterday, PM visited Lucknow but he didn't visit Lakhimpur Kheri," said the Congress leader. 

He also raised questions on the conduct of the UP government saying that the postmortem was not done in a proper manner. "Criminals can do anything they want in UP," said Rahul Gandhi citing the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri. 

Questioning The Media 

Gandhi also blamed the media for not asking the "right questions" and "blaming the opposition".

"You know how media is controlled in India. Other institutions are also being controlled by the government," Gandhi said. 

"Its a clear thing: India was a democracy, now it is a dictatorship," said Rahul Gandhi. "There's a huge loot happening in all sectors. The voices of India are being crushed by this government," he added.  

He concluded by saying, "Other parties are being allowed to visit Lakhimpur, but only Congress is being stopped."