Hours after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police on her way to meet the families of the four farmers killed in violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and other MLAs were also detained while trying to reach the UP district.
Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the district after violence on Sunday over a visit by Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra and UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya. A murder case has been filed against Mr Mishra's son and several others over the violence.
The farmers, who had assembled to stop the visit of the Union Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya, said the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri started after one of the cars in the ministers' convoy mowed down the protesters. Visuals from the area showed arson and vehicles set on fire.
This morning, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police as she headed to meet the families of four farmers killed in the violence. "I am not important than the people you have killed. The government you are defending. You give me a legal warrant, a legal basis or else I will not move from here and you won't touch me," a visibly agitated Congress leader, surrounded by policemen, is heard saying in a video when her convoy is stopped at Sitapur.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said he was "saddened" by the violence in his state that left eight people, including four farmers, dead. He promised strict action against those responsible following an investigation and made an appeal to maintain peace.
Here are the Highlights on UP Lakhimpur Kheri violence:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi must sack Union minister Ajay Mishra over the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri which left eight people dead, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary demanded on Monday after meeting families of the victims in the village. Mr Chaudhary also claimed the villagers told him during the meeting that the violence appeared "pre-meditated" and hoped the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath "does not prosecute farmers".
The Punjab Cabinet on Monday observed a two-minute silence to pay homage to four farmers who lost their lives in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in Uttar Pradesh. The Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi "prayed to the Almighty to give courage to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of grief and grant eternal peace to the departed souls," the Punjab government said in an official statement.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Bibi Jagir Kaur on Monday said she has decided to send an SGPC delegation to Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh to meet the family of victim farmers, reported PTI. "A delegation is being sent by the SGPC to Uttar Pradesh to enquire into the matter and get the details of the case from the families of the victims. The delegation will submit its report to the Akal Takht," she said. Ms Kaur said the delegation would include SGPC's executive committee members Ajmer Singh Khera and Amrik Singh Shahpur, among others.
The Uttar Pradesh government is conducting a fair investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, said Union Minister of State (MoS) for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore on Monday, adding the incident should not be exaggerated or politicised, reported ANI.
"The Uttar Pradesh government is conducting a fair investigation into this. The Opposition should also support us in this and no one should give provoking statements till the truth comes out. It should not be exaggerated or politicised," the MoS told ANI.
LIVE: Mamata Banerjee: Not Ram Raj, This Is "Killing Raj"Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over violence in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said there is a "Killing Raj" in the state, instead of promised "Ram Raj". Read here.
The heinous incident in #Lakhimpur yesterday is a blot on humanity & a blatant display of majoritarian cruelty by the Ruling Party in UP & at Centre. I strongly condemn their undemocratic attempts to detain all Opposition leaders from meeting the bereaved families of the victims
- Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) October 4, 2021
Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah, State Congress president DK Shivakumar along with other party leaders staged a protest in Bengaluru against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence incident and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's detention pic.twitter.com/Mn6piNvQqn
- ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2021
The CPI(M) on Monday slammed the BJP and the Centre, saying they have "no business to not allow" political leaders to visit Lakhimpur Kheri where violent clashes left four farmers dead, PTI reported. Opposition parties have alleged that their leaders are not being allowed to meet the families of the victims.
Why are Congress leaders not being allowed to enter UP to visit the bereaved families in Lakhimpur ? Our Deputy CM @Sukhjinder_INC & MLAs have been detained at the UP Haryana Border. I condemn such tyranny being done by the UP Govt.
- Charanjit S Channi (@CHARANJITCHANNI) October 4, 2021
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has demanded a judicial inquiry under a sitting judge, into the death of eight persons, including four farmers, in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, reported ANI.
Mr Hooda, who is also the former chief minister of Haryana, urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take "stringent and immediate" action against those police personnel who allegedly "manhandled" party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Deepender Singh Hooda when they were on their way to meet the kin of the victims in Lakhimpur Kheri.
"The way farmers have been crushed under the car inhumanly is not accepted in a democracy. In a democracy, everybody has a right to protest. There should be a judicial inquiry under a sitting judge. Justice should be served to the victims. The right amount of compensation should also be given. After the judicial inquiry everything will be clear," Mr Hooda said.
UP Violence: In Glass Cases At Protest Site, The Bodies Of 4 Farmers Run OverThe bodies of four farmers who, according to their supporters, were run over by a car in a minister's convoy, were kept in glass cases this morning at Lakhimpur Kheri, a four-hour drive from Lucknow. Read here.
Ashish Mishra Says He Wasn't In The Car Accused Of Running Over FarmersAshish Mishra, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra, has refuted accusations that he was part of the convoy that allegedly ran over farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district on Sunday, triggering the violence that left eight people dead. Read here.
An 18-year-old and a 20-year-old have died in the #LakhimpurKheri violence. NDTV's Alok Pandey reports pic.twitter.com/In74mltbhq
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 4, 2021
#NDTVExclusive | Ashish Mishra, son of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, denies his presence at the spot where violence broke out in UP's #LakhimpurKheri, blames protesters for attacking the convoy pic.twitter.com/jkZSjjwzlQ
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 4, 2021
UP Violence Carried Out Using "Leftist Methods": RSS-Linked Body Seeking the harshest punishment for those involved in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, RSS-affiliated farmers' union Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) on Monday said people from various political parties, and not farmers, were behind it. Read here.
AAP Leaders to meet Farmers at #Lakhimpur - @raghav_chadha addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/lIgbYsart8
- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 4, 2021
Haryana CM ML Khattar's statement is unfortunate. Priyanka Gandhi wants to go to Lakhimpur Kheri & sympathise with farmers but the state (UP) govt is afraid and didn't allow her. We demand a judicial inquiry into the incident: Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot pic.twitter.com/XefGUVDiAQ
- ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2021
Congress stage protest over Lakhimpur Kheri incident lead by AICC General Secy Harish Rawat in Dehradun today
- ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2021
"It's a shameful incident. This murderer govt (UP govt) should resign & Union Minister should be removed. Those responsible should be arrested: Harish Rawat, Congress pic.twitter.com/f9MXUpffsb
"I'll be visiting Lakhimpur Kheri to show solidarity with the people who've been murdered by Union Minister's son. It's a heinous crime. It's high time, PM Modi govt should withdraw the 3 farm laws and he should remove this Minister," AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said in Hyderabad.
Supreme Court To Farmers On UP Violence: Can't Protest When...Why are farmers protesting even after challenging the law in court, the Supreme Court questioned sharply today, saying it would examine whether the farmers had the right to protest when the issue of farm laws is being decided in court.
Tomorrow, there will be gherao of DM's office in every district across the country. It will become a countrywide movement. I demand the PM & UP CM take strict action against those responsible: Congress leader Rajiv Shukla in Delhi pic.twitter.com/UuqBWOHfBk
- ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2021
Communist Party of India Demands High-Level Probe Into UP Violence In Lakhimpur KheriThe Communist Party of India (CPI) has demanded a high-level probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, adequate compensation for families of victims and the resignation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Aam Aadmi Party delegation led by Punjab Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema along with Raghav Chadha, Kultar Sandhwa and Baljinder Kaur to leave for Lakhimpur Kheri today, the party says.
"Haven't seen the video but even if he has a revolver, he has a licence; everyone has the right to carry one for self-defence": Union Minister Ajay Mishra on a viral video of son Ashish Mishra at #LakhimpurKheri, as he denies their presence at the spot. pic.twitter.com/HkY0dBQI88
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 4, 2021
"There will be a country-wide agitation on this issue; oppressing farmers is unfortunate for democracy": Congress leader Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) addresses the media after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained on her way to #LakhimpurKheri. pic.twitter.com/QwefsLKeSd
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 4, 2021
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi seen sweeping the floors of the room in which she has been detained, while on her way to #LakhimpurKheri in #UttarPradesh. pic.twitter.com/FzKxIoMsW1
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 4, 2021
"Expressing solidarity with bereaved families of farmers, I'm leaving for Lakhimpur Kheri to be with my brothers and sisters in this hour of grief. I've also sought permission from the Uttar Pradesh government to allow landing or taking off of chopper at the site," says Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit S Channi.
Punjab Govt's Civil Aviation director writes to UP Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi, informing him that CM Charanjit Singh Channi wants to visit Lakhimpur Kheri; seeks permission for landing of the CM's chopper pic.twitter.com/r6V9kRkmPK
- ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2021