The Antim ardaas of the martyrs of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre is being observed in Tikunia, at Sahebjada Inter College.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha has appealed to farmers organisations and other progressive groups across the country to mark the Shaheed Kisan Diwas by organising prayer and homage meetings all over the country. SKM has appealed to hold candle light vigils, to light 5 candles outside their homes at 8pm today evening.
BJP govt and UP Police’s Defence of Ajay Mishra Teni
Samyukt Kisan Morcha has expressed its dismay and disappointment at Ajay Mishra Teni continuing in the Union Council of Ministers even now and at not being arrested. While due to the Lakhimpur Kheri incidents his earlier history of criminal cases has come into the public gaze, it is clear that in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre itself, he had a role to play. It was his vehicles that were in the convoy that killed innocent people. The fact that Ajay Mishra Teni had sought to promote enmity, hatred and disharmony is clear from his speech on September 25th against minority Sikhs of Terai region. His speech was of intimidation and threat, in a public meeting at that, where he was also proudly alluding to his criminal antecedents, and on the basis of this, stern action should have taken place by now, which could have prevented the entire episode of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre. The fact that he tried his best to protect his son Ashish Mishra from being arrested is also very apparent. It is clear that his continuation as a Minister in the Union Council of Ministers can be construed only as Narendra Modi’s harbouring of criminals, Narendra Modi’s readiness to erode further the credibility of India’s Union Government, or Narendra Modi’s ego becoming more important than morality in public life.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha has already issued an ultimatum about 11th being the deadline for the sacking and arrest of Ajay Mishra Teni. Tomorrow, in the prayer meetings organised in Lakhimpur Kheri for the martyrs of the massacre, SKM will go ahead with its announced plan of action. SKM reiterates that the farmers’ movement cannot be dissipated or weakened by BJP-RSS playing their communal card, and that farmers of the country are united in their struggle.
The fact that BJP and Modi Government are still defending Ajay Mishra Teni vindicates our stand that communal politics and violence are being brought in to try to weaken weaken and dissipate the farmers’ movement. – SKM
Ashish Mishra Teni has been sent to a 3-day police remand while the UP SIT sought his custody for 14 days, after a hearing in the Sessions Court in Lakhimpur Kheri yesterday. SKM has questioned the role of Uttar Pradesh police in delaying the arrest and in allowing his accomplices to flee. Ashish Mishra also tried to cover up and create his defence before being questioned by the Police, by coming with affidavits and pen drives. From the way the investigation and police action around arrests have unfolded so far, it is apparent that justice is quite far away, left to UP Police and administration. SKM warns UP government against fudging of any evidence, and once again asks that the investigation mechanism in this case should report directly to the Supreme Court.
Also Read: Who is Ajay Mishra? A wrestler, a Bahubali, a murder accused and a BJP Minister
The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra has announced a state-wide bandh yesterday to condemn the killings of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. The the Bandh has been successful.
Farmers are continuing with their protests against BJP leaders and events in various places. In Jind, there was a protest against a BJP workshop yesterday, accompanied by a peaceful jam of the Jind-Panipat highway. It is reported that BJP leaders and a few BJP MLAs had to be sneaked away through a backdoor from this event. In Ellenabad of Haryana, BJP-JJP candidate Govind Kanda faced farmers’ wrath. Meanwhile in Chandigarh, it is reported that farmers who were protesting against BJP leaders were detained and beaten up by Police.
The Lokneeti Satyagraha Padayatra that commenced in Champaran on Gandhi Jayanti has entered Uttar Pradesh. The foot march by hundreds of protestors will reach Varanasi, PM Modi’s constituency on October 20th. Yesterday, the yatra reached Sitab Diara (native village of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan) and spent the night in Dube Chhapra.
Yesterday was the 119th Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, the Independent Movement activist, socialist and political leader credited with a call for Sampoorna Kranti in the context of Indira Gandhi-imposed Emergency. Samyukt Kisan Morcha pays its deep respects to the Lok Nayak on this occasion.
Farmers in Haryana’s Gohana have warned state Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar from participating in an event in Gohana on 13th October, and stated that they would stage a black flag protest if the CM joins the program.
