Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday met the family members of farmers killed in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri and promised them all assistance.
They arrived in Lakhimpur after the Uttar Pradesh government allowed them visit the violence-hit district.
Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi left for Lakhimpur together in a car from a police guest house in Sitapur where she was kept in detention since Monday morning.
Sitapur Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Pyarelal Maurya said Wednesday evening that Priyanka Gandhi has been released from detention.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was the only party whose delegation was able to reach the Lakhimpur Kheri village in Uttar Pradesh. She said that the delegation was also able to speak to the family members of the victims who were allegedly run over by a convoy of three SUVs.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra leave for Lakhimpur Kheri from PAC guest house in Sitapur
The spot near Tikonia village where violence erupted on Sunday during a farmers’ protest is amid an area linked to the life of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.
ANI
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the BJP government is committing more atrocities than the British, and its minister is threatening to suppress farmers' voices.
He was addressing a program at Sunaseer Nath Gurudwara here.
"The BJP government has surpassed the atrocities committed by the British. Its minister of state of home is threatening farmers to suppress their voice. Such tone and tenor should not be there in democracy," Yadav said.
"There were cruel rulers in the world but in the BJP regime, the voice of democracy is being crushed. In the nearby Lakhimpur district, Sikhs and farmers were crushed and killed. Never has such an incident taken place in the world," he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday lashed out at the Centre over the death of farmers during violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure justice for the families of the victims.
The AAP leader also demanded that the accused in the case be arrested and that Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Kumar Mishra, whose son has been named as accused in the incident, be sacked.
Addressing a virtual press conference, he alleged that the “entire system” is trying to protect the killers of the farmers and asked the prime minister as to why nobody has so far been arrested in connection with the case. (PTI)
AAP delegation gets clearance from Uttar Pradesh government to visit Lakhimpur
The Uttar Pradesh government has given permission to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and three others to visit Lakhimpur, a top official said here.
Earlier in the day, the state government had denied permission to Rahul Gandhi for the visit, and an official spokesperson had said that no one would be allowed to visit the violence-hit district to vitiate its atmosphere. (PTI)
The Uttar Pradesh government has given permission to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and three other people to visit Lakhimpur Kheri
Robert Vadra on Wednesday claimed that he has been stopped from going to Lucknow to meet his wife and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has been detained in Sitapur while on her way to meet victims of violence in Lakhimpur Kheri.
In a Facebook post, Vadra also said that he was "shocked" at the manner his wife has been "arrested".
"I have been stopped to get to Lucknow, UP. to check on my wife and make sure she is fine and well. I am shocked beyond belief, how Priyanka has been arrested under Section 151 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," he said in the post. (PTI)
The BJP on Wednesday accused Rahul Gandhi of trying to fan unrest over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, alleging that the Gandhi family is using the tragedy as an opportunity to derive political mileage as it has been facing questions from Congress leaders.
Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi after the Congress leader launched a sharp attack on the government, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said "irresponsibility" has become his second name.
The Congress has been trying everything to "provoke" people to cause violence, he added. (PTI)
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Bhupesh Baghel and Charanjit Channi board a flight to Lucknow to meet families of farmers who lost their lives in Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Credit: Special Arrangement
Gurvinder Singh, alias Gyaniji, one of the four farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, was cremated on Wednesday morning after a second autopsy was conducted on him as demanded by his family, police said.
Family members of the 22-year-old, from Moharia village of Bahraich, had earlier refused to cremate him, claiming that he was shot dead but the post-mortem report had no mention of it. They received support from farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and Punjabi singer Sonia Maan. (PTI)
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday slammed the Uttar Pradesh Police for detaining party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and accused it of violating the spirit of the Constitution.
His remark came a day after he warned that the party's state unit would march towards Lakhimpur Kheri if Gandhi was not released and Union minister Ajay Mishra's son not held in connection with the violence.
Gandhi was detained in Sitapur on Monday while she was on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri, where eight people, including four farmers, died during a protest over Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit on Sunday. (PTI)
Reports suggest that internet services were shut down in Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur on Wednesday as a precaution, following reports that some Congress leaders were on their way to meet party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The Uttar Pradesh government has sent a report to the Centre detailing the issue in Lakhimpur, where eight persons were killed on October 3. Sources told News18 that the state government has expressed concerns in the report which was submitted before the Union Home Ministry.
Be it me, or Priyanka, no one in our family is scared of manhandling. We are trained in that. This is a bigger issue, that of the farmers: Rahul Gandhi
Democratic institutions of India are like safety valves, if you shut that then everything will be shut. By going to the villages, we want to tell the families that they can't be runover by someone claiming to be the Home Minister's son. Right now they do not have hope: Rahul Gandhi
What used to be a democracy in India, has now become a dictatorship. National politicians have not been allowed into Uttar Pradesh. Dictatorship exists because the government is stealing from the businesses, from the farmers and from common public: Rahul Gandhi
It is the Opposition's job to build pressure. That is what worked in the Hathras rape case. This is what we're trying to do here, but the government is not letting us. This is actually media's job but you are not doing it: Rahul Gandhi
We want to visit the village, meet the families of the victims. How is this our fault? Priyanka has been detained, but the bigger issue is that of farmers: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP and PM Narendra Modi for a "systematic attack" on farmers. "They're insulting the farmers and that is a bad idea," Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi is briefing the media.
"The government has denied permission to Rahul Gandhi. If he arrives in Lucknow, we'll request him at the airport not to visit Lakhimpur Kheri amdSitapur. SP & DM of Lakhimpur andSitapur urged us to stop him from coming in wake of law andorder situation,"DK Thakur, Lucknow Police Commissioner told ANI.
Rahul Gandhi to address media shortly with CMs Bhupesh Baghel and Charanjit Singh Channi.
Rahul Gandhi was denied permission to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, multiple reports suggest.
The Eastern peripheral expressway near Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh has been barricaded in anticipation of protests. The police are checking vehicles coming from Haryana and Punjab.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot landed in Delhi at 9 am. He will now go to Lakhimpur Kheri by road.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday condemned the Uttar Pradesh government for keeping AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress MP Deepender Hooda under detention for 36 hours. Gehlot condemned Gandhi’s detention, accusing the Yogi Adityanath government of permitting other parties’ delegations to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. (PTI)
"My son wasn't there in the car. After the car was attacked, the driver was injured, the car lost its balance andran over a few people present there. I've expressed sympathies towards those who have lost their lives. There should be an unbiased probe,"MoS Ajay Teni said on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
"The party high command has not summoned me. I will be reaching Delhi by tonight or tomorrow as I have few works lined up,"he added. (ANI)
Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday gave a week’s ultimatum to the Uttar Pradesh government for arresting Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra's son, accused in an FIR of being behind farmers’ death inLakhimpurKheri.
“We have given a week to the government to arrest the son of the Union MoS (Home). We all will gather here again on the day of ‘bhog’ (a ritual during the 13-day post-death mourning period) and then will discuss and decide the future strategy,” Tikait told newspersons here. (PTI)
The Aam Aadmi Party claimed that its MP Sanjay Singh and some other party leaders were arrested while trying to go toLakhimpurKheri on Tuesday to meet the families of the victims killed during a farmers' protest recently.
However, there was no statement on the issue by the authorities.
The AAP in a tweet claimed that Singh was arrested along with other leaders. (PTI)
Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra alias Monu was sitting in the car that mowed down protesting farmers and he also opened fire at them, according to an FIR lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police.
Rajasthan’s former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Tuesday demanded a probe into violence in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri by a sitting judge of the Supreme court.