Lakhimpur Kheri violence

The allegation of a Union Minister’s son driving his father’s car into a crowd of farmers, killing four and injuring many others, ought to cost the ruling dispensation in Uttar Pradesh and the Centre dearly, if it is true. The death of eight persons in Lakhimpur Kheri, 130 km north of Lucknow, is a shocking reminder of the consequences of letting a festering wound turn septic. The farm unions have been disrupting BJP functions in Punjab and Haryana and it was only a matter of time before protests spilled over to UP. Farmers gathered at a helipad on Sunday morning to display their displeasure against UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was visiting the village of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra. While leaders accuse the minister’s son Ashish Mishra of mowing down farmers, the minister claims his son was not on the spot. In the ensuing violence, four others were also killed. Ashish Mishra is accused of opening fire at the farmers.

Unless journalists and politicians are allowed to reach the spot, it is difficult to ascertain the truth and understand the grievances of the victims. Opposition leaders have been stopped from visiting the site of the violence, which can only be termed an undemocratic act by the UP Government. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Deepender Hooda were pushed around and detained late Sunday night. Former CM Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary were also detained, prompting violent responses from their cadre. Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, his colleagues and others were denied permission to land in Lakhimpur Kheri, which has obviously become a highly volatile battleground for political one-upmanship.

The Union Government is wrong if it thinks it can wear the farmers down by letting the protests go on for nearly a year. The farmers’ belief in their cause can keep the agitation afire for long. Instead of provoking the agitators ( Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar’s statement needlessly created a stir), the government should talk to them to find a meeting point.