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Kejriwal to Modi: Why no arrests over Lakhimpur Kheri violence so far?
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that those who ran over the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri were not getting arrested as they were being shielded
Demanding the removal of Union minister of state for home Ajay Kumar Mishra Teni from council of ministers, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why no arrest had taken place yet in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri clashes which left eight people, including four farmers, dead earlier this week.
Alleging that the “entire system” was trying to protect the accused, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor also sought to know “why is there so much hatred against the farmers” who have been protesting against the three contentious agricultural laws since November last year.
“I am talking to you (Modi) on behalf of the people of India. Why have the accused, who ran over the farmers, still not arrested? Why are they being shielded from punishment? Everyone has watched on TV how the violence unfolded. It appears as if the entire system is engaged in saving those who are behind the incident despite them murdering people in broad daylight and in front of so many others. We have seen such things only in Hindi movies,” Kejriwal told reporters here.
“For the last one year, farmers have been sitting on a dharna. More than 600 farmers have died so far. And then farmers are crushed and killed by mowing them down under wheels. Why is there so much hatred against the farmers?” he asked the Prime Minister.
Eight people, including four farmers, were killed on Sunday, in the bloodiest clash since the farmers’ protest over the Centre’s agricultural laws started last year. The farmers were allegedly knocked down by a vehicle owned by Teni, prompting villagers to go on a rampage and set fire to vehicles, and allegedly kill four others.
On Monday, the Uttar Pradesh Police booked Teni, his son Ashish Mishra and others on murder and other charges based on a complaint lodged by farmers in connection with the incident. No arrest has been made so far.
The state government also moved to bar Opposition leaders from moving from Lucknow to Lakhimpur Kheri, by deploying police and issuing orders under section 144 of CrPC, which restricts the movement or assembly of four or more people.
Taking a swipe at the Union MoS’s claims that his son was not present at the spot at the time of the incident, as alleged by the farmers, Kejriwal said: “Today, people of this system are saying the vehicle involved in the violence did not have the minister’s son in it. After a week, this system will say there was no car in the incident, and in another week after that, they will say there were no farmers at the spot. The truth is that we do not have justice here. Today, every citizen is demanding justice.”
Attacking the state government for imposing curbs in the district, Kejriwal said: “Pradhan Mantri (Prime Minister) Ji, on the one hand, the government is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Mahotsav (festival of freedom)’ and on the other hand, opposition leaders are being arrested on their way to Lakhimpur. What type of freedom is this? Britishers used to take such actions,” he said.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had attempted to visit the affected families but was detained on Monday and later arrested on Tuesday. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was also not allowed to leave Lucknow airport to visit the district on Monday.
After initially denying permission to political parties to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, the state government has now allowed political leaders to visit the district, news agency PTI reported.
Earlier on Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi left for the district from Lucknow airport in his own vehicle after staging a brief ‘dharna’ on initially being asked to travel in a police vehicle.
Urging Modi to visit the kin of the deceased, Kejriwal said: “Every citizen of this country is today demanding justice for the farmers. The decision is in your hands.”
“The families of farmers, who died in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, are inconsolable. If they meet their Prime Minister, it will bring in some relief,” he added.
