“Reaction to action”: Rakesh Tikait on 2 BJP workers’ deaths in Lakhimpur

The killing of two BJP workers in Lakhimpur Kheri – after four farmers were run over by a SUV owned by Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra is a “reaction to an action”, and “would not call it wrong”, Rakesh Tikait, one of the faces of farmers agitation said Saturday.

“Don’t consider those who killed BJP workers in Lakhimpur as culprits, they only reacted to SUV running over protesters,” BKU’s Tikait told reporters at a press conference attended by farmer union leaders in national capital Delhi.

Rail roko

Demanding the arrest of Union minister Ajay Mishra and his son Ashish, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers protesting against the contentious farm laws, on Saturday called for ‘rail roko’ on 18 October to protest Lakhimpur Kheri farmers’ killings.

“Govt has adopted violent approach against protesting farmers. We won’t take path of violence,” said farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan. “We demand Union Minister Ajay Mishra and his son Ashish be arrested,” he added.

A day after skipping the summons, Ashish Mishra, who has been accused of running over farmers, arrived at the Police Lines today for questioning over the violence.

“Union minister Ajay Mishra should be removed and arrested as he started this conspiracy,” SKM leader Yogendra Yadav said.

The SKM said that the background for Lakhimpur Kheri violence was set during Ajay Misra’s speech on September 25. “He [Ajay Misra] had said that they will throw out those working in Lakhimpur Kheri by taking the land on lease,” said SKM’s Darshan Pal.

Pal said, “Lakhimpur Kheri incident part of a pre-planned conspiracy. They (attackers) tried to terrorise farmers.”

The SKM said that they will burn the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Dusshera on 15 October.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha has also appealed to farmers across the country to reach Lakhimpur Kheri on October 12 for the tribute ceremony for the farmers who were killed on October 3.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday ended his hunger strike. Sidhu started the hunger strike on Friday at the Lakhimpur residence of late journalist Raman Kashyap, who was among the eight people killed, and vowed to continue it until Ashish reports to the police or is arrested.