Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi expressed solidarity with the families of the farmers killed during Sunday’s Lakhimpur Kheri incident, and announced an ex-gratia of ₹50 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, including journalist Raman Kashyap.
“On the behalf of the Punjab government, I announce ₹50 lakh each to the families of the deceased including the journalist,” Channi told ANI on Wednesday.
As many as eight people lost their lives in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident on Sunday when two SUVs mowed down protesting farmers. A First Information Report stated Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra’s son, Ashish, was sitting in one of the SUVs which ran over the protesters. The BJP leader’s son has also been accused of opening fire on protesters a few minutes later.
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"The minister's son committed the act in a display of hooliganism. The central government also did not take any action against the Union minister in the wake of the viral video and today (October 3), his son carried out the gruesome act," the FIR added.
Another Congress leader and chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, also announced an ex-gratia of ₹50 lakh for the kin of the deceased. The Uttar Pradesh government, which has come under fire from the Opposition for its handling of the incident, earlier announced an ex-gratia of ₹45 lakh and a government job for the families of the four farmers who were killed in the violence.
{{/usCountry}}Another Congress leader and chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, also announced an ex-gratia of ₹50 lakh for the kin of the deceased. The Uttar Pradesh government, which has come under fire from the Opposition for its handling of the incident, earlier announced an ex-gratia of ₹45 lakh and a government job for the families of the four farmers who were killed in the violence.
{{/usCountry}}Both Channi and Baghel are currently in Lucknow, accompanying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his official visit to Lakhimpur Kheri. Senior party leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala are also expected to visit the site of the violence with Gandhi.
Gandhi was not allowed to leave Lucknow airport in his personal vehicle by Uttar Pradesh police. “We want to go in our car (to Lakhimpur Kheri) but they (police) want to take us in their vehicle. I asked them to let me go in my personnel vehicle. They're planning something. I'm sitting here,” he told reporters from the airport.