Form of words:
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on his way to Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the families of those who were run over last week by a convoy of cars allegedly owned by Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni.
Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in clashes on October 3, following violence after a group of protesting farmers hit a convoy of three SUVs.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Gandhi said that he would go to Lakhimpur Kheri with two chief ministers of the state, so it would not be a violation of Section 144.
The law, which prohibits gatherings of four or more people, has been enforced in the area.
Congress leader and Rahul’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was arrested on Tuesday – After being in custody for more than 30 hours – When she was going to Lakhimpur Kheri. The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh was Bhupesh Baghel. is also forbidden To leave from Lucknow airport as he was demanding to reach the violence-hit place.
Defending Congress leaders’ attempt to reach Lakhimpur Kheri, Rahul said it was a way to “pressurize” the government.
“The job of the opposition is to create pressure. When we create pressure, it leads to investigation and action. In Hathras (rape case), we created pressure and it led to investigation. If we had not gone there, this would not have happened,” he said.
“Honestly, it’s your (media’s) job too. But you don’t. You have forgotten your responsibility, and then turn around and question us,” he said.
Gandhi also said that it is important for leaders to meet the families of the victims to give them support and hope.
“We are trying to make them believe that in this country you cannot be run by a criminal who calls himself the son of the Home Minister, and then nothing happens. We will not allow this. We want to tell them it’s not okay, we want to give them hope. Today, they have no hope,” he said.
‘Scramble with all you want, we don’t care’
When asked about the arrest of Priyanka Gandhi, who was taken into custody Placed in the Sitapur campus (40 km from Lakhimpur Kheri) early Monday and later, Rahul Gandhi said it was the farmers’ matter first.
“Yes, Priyanka has been taken into custody. But it is about farmers,” he said.
In a video uploaded on Twitter on Tuesday, Priyanka had said that she was not given any police order or FIR, nor was she allowed to meet her lawyers. He was later formally arrested.
Asked about Priyanka being allegedly assaulted by police officers on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri, Rahul said it did not affect her family.
“Whether it is Priyanka, or me or anyone in our family, you can beat us up whatever you want, we don’t care. We don’t care. We get years of training from our family to handle this. We don’t care, it’s about farmers,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi also questioned why Congress leaders were being prevented from meeting the families of the victims.
“Why are we being stopped? What is our fault?” Gandhi asked, pointing out that other parties like Trinamool Congress and Bhim Army were allowed to visit the spot.
‘Orthodox attack’
The former Congress chief also accused the government of “arrogance” in handling the protests against three agriculture laws introduced last year.
“Farmers are being crushed under jeeps, they are being killed. No action is taken against the son of BJP’s Home Minister, on the other hand the farmers of this country are being attacked in a planned manner.
“It is arrogance, because the government does not understand the power of farmers,” he said.
Read also: Modi left Lakhimpur in a 35-minute Lucknow speech, the opposition said ‘insensitive, anti-farmer’
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