Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh emerged the centre of a political storm, after eight people were killed in violence that erupted during a farmers' protest. Congress leaders including general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached Lakhimpur border early on Monday, and BKU's Rakesh Tikait has also arrived in the area. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said he will go to Lakhimpur on Monday to stand by the farmers in these difficult circumstances. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Lok Dal's Jayant Chaudhary are scheduled to reach the region today. Bahujan Samaj Party supremo and former CM Mayawati demanded that the Supreme Court take note of the incident and said she has directed that a delegation of her party visit the conflict site. Trinamool Congress announced that its MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Dola Sen, Pratima Mondal, Abir Ranjan Biswas and Sushmita Dev will be visiting Lakhimpur Kheri.
All opposition parties called for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to resign over the incident.
Congress leaders said Priyanka Gandhi had to take alternative routes to reach the bordering Hargaon area in Saitapur as heavy security was deployed on the main roads amid tension in Lakhimpur. There were also reports that Priyanka Gandhi's convoy was briefly stopped by the Uttar Pradesh Police officials in Lucknow.
Tikait said he will hold meetings with farmers and villagers in Lakhimpur. "We will first meet the farmers and villagers and discuss the situation with them. The future course of action will be done on the basis of the discussion with the villagers and farmers. Their decision will prevail," Tikait told reporters at Banbirpur village. BKU leaders alleged that they were stopped by Uttar Pradesh police officials in multiple points en route to Lakhimpur.
Mobile internet services were suspended in parts of the violence-hit district, where restrictions under CrPC section 144, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, has also been imposed.
Eight people were killed as violence erupted during a farmers' protest, claiming the lives of both farmers and BJP workers. Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers in the clash near Banbirpur in Lakhimpur Kheri, the bloodiest incident of violence since the protest over the farm laws enacted at the Centre began last year. Four of the dead were people in the cars, apparently a part of a convoy of BJP workers who had come to welcome the UP chief minister. They were allegedly thrashed to death. The four others were farmers.
-Inputs from PTI