'Protests across the country, BJP leaders worried': Farmer protest violence in UP so far

Various political parties and farmers' outfits held demonstrations across UP

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS E Even as NDTV reported that farmers have called off their protests from Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur, agreeing to cremate their dead after the government promised to pay a compensation of Rs 45 lakh to the families of those who died in the Sunday incidence of violence, fires of protests have ignited across the country. Various political parties and farmers' outfits on Monday held protests in various parts of Uttar Pradesh, demanding the dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra. The UP government has lodged a case against his son Ashish Mishra, promising a probe by a retired high court judge.

Eight people were killed on Sunday as violence erupted during farmers' protest in Lakhimpur Kheri, claiming the lives of both farmers and BJP workers ahead of a visit by UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. 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 minister. The violence had erupted after one of the cars of the convoy of BJP supporters turned turtle at the farmers' protest site, killing two of the protesting farmers on the spot.

Protests and demonstrations across the country

Protests and demonstrations were reported from various districts, including Banda, Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Fatehpur, Jalaun and Lalitpur in the Bundelkhand region, besides Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's home turf Gorakhpur.

Protests were organised in the national capital, Maharashtra, Punjab and other states. Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) and IYC also organised a candle-march seeking justice for the farmers who lost their lives in the incident. Left-affiliated All India Students' Association (AISA) along with other organisations called for demonstrations at UP Bhavan in Delhi, demanding immediate arrest of Union minister's son and an end to attacks on farmers.

In Uttar Pradesh, burning of government effigies, staging of sit-ins and blocking road traffics, the demonstrations were also marked by protesters clashing with police at some places. Workers of various political parties which participated in these protests included those of the Samajwadi Party, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party.

Some of the political parties also protested against their leaders being stopped from proceeding to Lakhimpur Kheri. In a statement, the Samajwadi Party, in protests against the detention of its president Akhilesh Yadav to stop him from visiting the violence-hit district, its workers held demonstrations all over the state.