Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren terms Lakhimpur Kheri violence as a blot on humanity

Congress burns effigies of PM, UP CM over farmer’s death and detention of Priyanka Gandhi

Ranchi, October 4: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday launched a frontal attack on the BJP governments at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, terming the incident as a “blot on humanity”.

He alleged that the incident was nothing short of a blatant display of “majoritarian cruelty”.

Eight people were killed – including farmers and BJP workers — as violence erupted on Sunday during a farmers’ protest ahead of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to Lakhimpur with allegation that one of the SUV which mowed down farmers belonged to the Union minister.

“The heinous incident in Lakhimpur yesterday is a blot on humanity and a blatant display of majoritarian cruelty by the ruling party in UP and at the Centre. I strongly condemn their undemocratic attempts to detain all opposition leaders from meeting the bereaved families of the victims,” Soren tweeted.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party leaders were detained in Sitapur, with the party alleging they were not allowed to meet the victims of the violence.

Ruling alliance member Congress burnt effigy of the UP government to protest detention of Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Effigy of the Uttar Pradesh government was burnt by the activists at the local Albert Ekka Chowk.

State Congress Committee president Rajesh Thakur, who was present as the chief guest on the occasion, said that governance in Uttar Pradesh has turned into misgovernance and democracy has turned into mourning. The common people are being tortured continuously by the government machinery, but due to no action taken by the government, the morale of the criminals is increasing.

The Congress leader said that the manner in which farmers were killed by the son of the Union Minister and no action has been taken on it, the intention of the government has been exposed.

He also said that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi who was going to meet the families of the victims, was arrested by the government and demanding the sacking of the Uttar Pradesh government and a probe into the entire episode by a high level team.

Congress leader Sanjay Pandey said that the central government can take action at any level to suppress the farmers’ movement and in this sequence, the killing of farmers has been started and demanded that the culprits be punished by setting up fast track courts without any delay.

The effigies of Prime Minister Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were burnt in protest against the arrest of Congress leader and MP Deepender Singh Hooda.