New Delhi: Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday said he doesn’t consider those involved in the killing of two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers during the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri as culprits and dubbed it a reaction to an action.
“The killing of two BJP workers in Lakhimpur Kheri after a convoy of cars mowed down four farmers is a reaction to an action. I do not consider those involved in the killings as culprits,” he said in reply to a question asked during a press conference here, PTI reported.
READ: Lakhimpur Violence: Ashish Mishra Appears Before Crime Branch Office, Investigation Underway
Meanwhile, Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Yogendra Yadav described the Lakhimpur Kheri violence as “unfortunate” and hoped justice is done.
“We are sad over the loss of lives, be it BJP workers or farmers. It was unfortunate and we hope justice is done,” he said.
Accusing Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra of protecting the culprits in this case, Yadav demanded that the former should be removed from the Union Cabinet.
Yadav also said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha will burn the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the occasion of Dussehra on October 15 to protest against the violence.
Asserting that the incident was a “pre-planned conspiracy”, the farmer leaders on Saturday demanded that Union Minister Ajay Mishra and his son be arrested in connection with this case.
Earlier in the day, the Union Minister’s son Ashish Mishra appeared before the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
He is being interrogated at the Crime Branch office in Lakhimpur Kheri police lines.
Ashish Mishra was named in a FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri.
Eight people, including farmers, BJP workers and a journalist, were killed in the violence that broke out on October 3 after an SUV allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters, who were demonstrating against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit at Tikonia-Banbirpur road in Lakhimpur Kheri.