Lakhimpur Kheri: SKM’s ‘rail roko’ protest today; train movement could be hit

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organization of multiple farmers’ unions, called on Monday for the railway roko agitation to call for the removal of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni because his son is suspected of participating in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri in the northern state. The six-hour national “Rail roko” agitation will start at 10 am and continue until 4 pm.
On October 3, in Tikunia village of Lakhimpur Kheri, as many as eight people were killed, including four farmers, after two SUVs knocked down a group of protesters. SKM claimed that Ashish Mishra, the son of the Union Minister, was sitting in a vehicle that ran over farmers. However, the minister denied the allegations and claimed that his son was not present at the time of the incident.

SKM said in a statement issued on Sunday: “It is clear that because Ajay Mishra is the MoS of the Ministry of the Interior of the coalition government, justice cannot be ensured in this matter.” “He promoted Hindus and Sikhs in his speech. The hatred, hostility, and community disharmony. It was his vehicle that was used to destroy peaceful protesters. Even if the police issued a subpoena to Ashish Mishra, he was harbouring his son and accomplices,” it added. .
The organization also assured that the riots will “go on peacefully and will not cause any kind of damage or damage to any railway property.” During the agitation, the movement of the train may also be affected.
Ashish Mishra was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and sent to prison on October 9. But he still insisted that he was not in the car at the time of the incident.
The Lakhimpur Kheri violence provided the opposition party with ammunition against the Uttar Pradesh government. They claim that the Yogi Adityanath government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to protect criminals.
Opposition parties, including Congress, also criticized the state government for not removing the Union minister despite the arrest of his son.

News Source : Hindustan Times