Ishfaq-ul-Hassan
NEW DELHI–Pressure is mounting on the Modi-led government to sack Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra, even as the death toll of farmers reached 10 in Lakhimpur Kheri.
Under fire, the Yogi Adityanath government has lodged an FIR against the Union Minister of State Ajay Kumar Mishra and his son Ashish Mishra for mowing down two farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.
Embers of farmers’ agitation have spread across the country prompting Yogi Adityanath to arrest Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar, and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Planes of Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel were not allowed to land in Lucknow.
Earlier an FIR was registered against Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra and his son Ashish Mishra at Tikunia police station of Lakhimpur Kheri. They were charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, and rioting.
On the other hand, talks have started between the farmers and the district administration of Lakhimpur Kheri to resolve the matter. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and others are present in the meeting.
Farmers have put forth four main demands. Sack Ajay Kumar Mishra, arrest his son Ashish Mishra. pay compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job to the next of kin.
Farmers met the district administration only after the FIR was against Ajay Kumar Mishra and his son Ashish Mishra at Tikunia police station.
The dismissal of Ajay Kumar Mishra depends on PM Narendra Modi. This demand of the farmers is proving to be a thorny issue for the district administration of Lakhimpur Kheri.
Ajay Kumar Mishra on the other hand is putting up a brave face. “My son and I were not at the scene at the time of the incident. I and my son should be framed. I have proof that my son and I are innocent. When the time comes, I will present the proof,” he said
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed in Lakhimpur Kheri. Yogi Leader of any opposition party has not been allowed to visit Lakhimpur Kheri
Akhilesh Yadav has sat on a dharna at his bungalow against what he called the arbitrariness and dictatorship of the Yogi Adityanath government. Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party President Shivpal Singh Yadav has also been placed under house arrest. BSP General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra has also been placed under house arrest. Satish Chandra Mishra has been given a written order not to go to Lakhimpur Kheri.
Airplanes of Punjab Chief Minister Charan Jit Singh Channi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel have not been allowed to land in Lucknow. Both these Chief Ministers wanted to go to Lakhimpur Kheri.
Yogi government is trying to cover up the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Though the Union Minister and son have been named in the FIR, they have not been arrested.
SP president Akhilesh Yadav was taken into custody after he managed to give police a slip at his residence. Akhilesh Yadav left his bungalow and reached the SP office. When he was leaving for Lakhimpur Kheri with his associates, police arrived and took him into custody.
Tension gripped the area after SP workers clashed with the cops. A vehicle of Palli police station was set on fire.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the Tikunia incident of Lakhimpur Kheri has now gone up to 10. Today an injured farmer succumbed. Raman Kashyap, a local journalist, also died in the incident at Tikunia in the Lakhimpur Kheri district.
Reports said live mention was fired. The agitating farmers have not fired the bullets.
