The Chhattisgarh and Punjab governments on Wednesday announced a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh each to families of four farmers and a journalist killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kehri violence
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said the Lakhimpur violence reminded him of the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre in 1919.
He said the UP government has made a “mockery” of democracy.
“Our government will provide Rs 50 lakh each to families of farmers and the journalist killed in Lakhimpur violence,” he said in Lucknow.
As many as eight people died in the Lakhimpur Kheri clash that happened after a vehicle ran over farmers who were gathered there to protest against the three farm laws. Four farmers were among eight killed in Lakhimpur.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday announced an ex-gratia of ₹45 lakh and a government job for the kin of four farmers who died in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
Another Congress leader and chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, also announced an ex-gratia of ₹50 lakh for the kin of the deceased.
“On the behalf of the Punjab government, I announce ₹50 lakh each to the families of the deceased including the journalist,” Channi told ANI on Wednesday.
As many as eight people lost their lives in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident on Sunday when two SUVs mowed down protesting farmers. A First Information Report stated Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra’s son, Ashish, was sitting in one of the SUVs which ran over the protesters. The BJP leader’s son has also been accused of opening fire on protesters a few minutes later.
“The minister’s son committed the act in a display of hooliganism. The central government also did not take any action against the Union minister in the wake of the viral video and today (October 3), his son carried out the gruesome act,” the FIR added.
Both Channi and Baghel are currently in Lucknow, accompanying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his official visit to Lakhimpur Kheri. Senior party leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala are also expected to visit the site of the violence with Gandhi.
Gandhi was not allowed to leave Lucknow airport in his personal vehicle by Uttar Pradesh police. “We want to go in our car (to Lakhimpur Kheri) but they (police) want to take us in their vehicle. I asked them to let me go in my personnel vehicle. They’re planning something. I’m sitting here,” he told reporters from the airport.
