Lucknow, Nov 20 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday said justice for victims of Lakhimpur Kheri should be the priority for Prime Minister Nanredra Modi, and urged him not to share the dais with Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra at the DGP conference being held here.
Priyanka Gandhi, in an open letter to the Prime Minister said, “Yesterday you accepted the tyranny of imposing three black agricultural laws on farmers and announced their withdrawal. I have read in the newspapers that today you will discuss with the top officers handling the law and order of the country in the DGP conference to be held in Lucknow.”
“The whole country witnessed the cruelty meted out to the farmers in the Lakhimpur farmer massacre. You are also aware that the main accused of crushing the farmers with his car is the son of the Union Minister of State for Home in your government,” she said in a letter in Hindi, which she also read out at a press conference.
“Due to political pressure, in this case, the Uttar Pradesh government tried to suppress the voice of justice from the beginning. Hon’ble Supreme Court said in this context that, seeing the intention of the government, it seems that the government is trying to save a particular accused,” she said.
The Congress leader said she met the families of farmers who died in Lakhimpur, adding that they are in “unbearable pain”.”All the families say that they only want justice for their kin. They have no hope for justice while the Union Minister of State for Home continues on his post,” she said. .
She said Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who are responsible for the law and order situation of the country, are sharing the stage with the same minister.
“You are the Prime Minister of the country, you must understand very well your responsibility towards the farmers of the country. It is not only the duty of the Prime Minister to ensure justice for every countryman, it is his moral responsibility,” she said.
“While addressing the countrymen yesterday, you said that in view of the interest of the farmers with a sincere heart and a pure heart, an unprecedented decision has been taken to withdraw the agricultural laws.
“You also said that you have good intentions towards the farmers of the country. If this is true, then getting justice to the victims in the Lakhimpur farmer massacre case should also be paramount for you.”
In her letter written a day after the Prime Minister announced that the Farm Laws would be repealed and on a day when the DGP Conference starts in Lucknow, she urged the PM to not share the stage with the MoS.”The Union Minister of State for Home, Shri Ajay Mishra Teni still continues to hold his post in your Cabinet.
If you share the stage with the father of the accused in this conference, a clear message will be sent to the families of the victims that you still stand with those who protect the murderers. This would be a grave insult to more than 700 farmers who were martyred in the Kisan Satyagraha,” she said.
“If your intention towards the farmers of the country is really clear, then do not sit on the stage with your Union Minister of State for Home, sack him.”
She also urged the Prime Minister to ensure withdrawal of cases against farmers across the country and demanded financial aid to the families of all the farmers who died during the agitations.
UNI
