The situation in India has continued to deteriorate as the government has suspended internet service and barred political leaders from entering the region of Uttar Pradesh which has been wracked by farmers’ protests for months. The violence escalated on October 3rd when a convoy of 3 SUVs with one vehicle owned by Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra and driven by his son mowed down dozens of protestors. After the incident protest leaders called for the “arrest of the Minister and his son”. The Indian Express reported that four farmers were killed and 12-15 others were injured.
What a hypocrisy.
Why national media pretends as if unaware about it .#लखीमपुर_खीरी_नरसंहार #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/Xkb2i7KM2m— Sukhdev Singh (@SukhdevSingh_) October 5, 2021
According to the Express,
“Sources said, “hundreds of protesters” gathered as part of the move to block Maurya’s convoy. “Suddenly, the SUVs came from Banveerpur and farmers attempted to stop them. In an attempt to escape, one of the drivers lost control of his vehicle and hit the farmers. The angry farmers stopped the vehicles and beat those inside,”
“So many farmers are not amongst us today, they were mowed down by a car,” said Vandana Singh, a Congress Party worker. “Today the whole country is ashamed of this. The country that praised its soldiers and farmers has today put its farmers in such a bad condition.”
Huge protests in Karnataka led by PCC President Shri @DKShivakumar & former CM @siddaramaiah against the murder of 4 farmers by BJP Minister's son & the illegal arrest of Smt. @priyankagandhi & Shri @DeependerSHooda #PriyankaGandhi#किसान_के_साथ_प्रियंका pic.twitter.com/ePIogDxFB8
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 4, 2021
Protestors Retaliate After Political Leader’s Car Rams Farmers
The Hindu, another prominent Indian News outlet has reported that “Following the incident, angry farmers set on fire and vandalized vehicles of the BJP leader leading to the death of four persons.”
They continued, “Union Minister Mishra claimed that his son was not present at the spot where the farmers were killed.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Mishra said, “My son was present on the stage where the function was being held, over 2,000 people were present, there is video evidence also. Had he been there (near the helipad where the killings took place), he would have also been lynched.”
Mr. Mishra alleged that some anti-social elements from Nanpara village threw rocks at a vehicle that was going to receive Mr. Maurya, who was the chief guest at the function in the Minister’s ancestral village.
“Stones came flying at the vehicle when it was on the way to receive the chief guest, the driver lost balance… and some could have died in that accident. My driver and three BJP workers who were in the vehicle were chased and attacked with rocks, sticks and swords… they were lynched,” Mr. Mishra said.
It seems no wonder that political figures are being barred from visiting the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. They don’t seem particularly welcome there.
