Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra granted permission to visit Lakhimpur
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have finally been granted permission to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. Rahul was earlier given a go-ahead to visit Sitapur along with three others. Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Police had denied him permission to visit the district. Priyanka had been detained on Monday as she tried to visit the families of deceased farmers.
Gandhi is accompanied by Baghel and Channi
Earlier on Wednesday, Gandhi informed that he would visit Lakhimpur Kheri with Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi to "understand the situation and support the Farmers' families." "Farmers are being mowed down...they're being murdered...the name of a Union Minister and his son is coming up in this incident, "Gandhi said, "We are exerting pressure on the government to take action."
'Systematic attack on farmers,' Gandhi slams Modi government
Gandhi said Wednesday, "Yesterday, (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) visited Lucknow, but he didn't visit Lakhimpur Kheri," adding, "It's a systematic attack on farmers." Gandhi also referred to the reversal of the Land Acquisition Bill and the three farm laws that sparked the farmers' protest.
Gandhi says media not fulfilling duty
Gandhi also went on to criticize the media for not highlighting the farmers' plight. "It is your responsibility, too, to exert pressure on the government, not just ours...you don't fulfill your duty and then accuse us of politicizing issues." On his sister's detention, Gandhi said, "We don't care at all, you can do whatever to us. We are talking about the farmers."
'Dictatorship,' Gandhi on banning politicians' visit to Lakhimpur
As the Yogi Adityanath government had previously blocked Opposition leaders from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri, Gandhi said it is a "dictatorship," with politicians being barred from meeting the bereaved kin of those killed on Sunday.
Gandhi was earlier denied permission to visit Lakhimpur Kheri
The government had earlier denied permission to Gandhi to visit violence-hit Lakhimpur Kheri, citing orders banning large gatherings. Gandhi argued a three-member delegation does not violate the order. Lucknow Police Commissioner DK Thakur had said that the "SP and DM of Lakhimpur and Sitapur had urged us to stop" Gandhi in Lucknow due to the law and order situation at the scene of violence.
