Farmers Agitation

Samyukta Kisan Morcha Press Release
316th day, 08th October 2021

●Samyukt Kisan Morcha deeply concerned with Uttar Pradesh Government's protection of the accused in Lakhimpur Kheri Farmers Massacre- This is not unexpected from Yogi and Modi Governments and we stand vindicated, says SKM- Harish Salve, appearing for UP Government also says that allegations are true, and that the "shortfall will be filled up between today and tomorrow"- "It is being said now that Ashish Mishra did not appear in the Crime Branch office because he was unwell, when the Minister and his son should know very well the procedures involved when someone is summoned", says SKM.

●Ajay Mishra Teni should be dismissed from the Union Government, and should also be arrested for the criminal conspiracy hatched, for promoting enmity and disharmony and for murder- Ajay Mishra, Ashish Mishra, Sumit Jaiswal, Ankit Das and other accomplices should be arrested immediately.

●SKM rejects the judicial commission inquiry set up by the Uttar Pradesh Government on 6th October and UP Government's SIT too- SKM demands an investigation that reports directly to the Supreme Court - SKM appeals to farmers and their supporters to join the 'antim ardaas' on 12th October in Lakhimpur Kheri (Tikonia)- Series of actions to be taken up from there on, including a all-India rail roko on 18th October.

●Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar tenders an apology and withdraws his statements inciting violence against farmers- SKM Haryana says that this is a victory of the farmers' movement.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha is deeply concerned with Uttar Pradesh's BJP Government's protection of the accused in Lakhimpur Kheri Farmers Massacre. SKM said that it was always a matter of obvious concern that justice will be compromised if it is left to UP's Yogi Government and when Ajay Mishra Teni continues to be a Minister in Modi Government - it stands vindicated. The Minister's son did not appear in Crime Branch Office this morning. But the fact that the UP Government commits to the Supreme Court that he will be questioned tomorrow can be presumed to be inside-knowledge about Ashish Mishra's whereabouts, and this was a dead give-away, says SKM. It is now being said that he did not put in an appearance because he was unwell.

SKM also points out that even the other obvious persons who should have been arrested - like Sumit Jaiswal and Ankit Das - have not been arrested so far by the UP Government. SKM has understood from reports of today's Hearing that Senior Counsel Harish Salve, appearing for UP government, has also admitted that the allegations are true (against Ashish Mishra and aides). He had assured the Supreme Court that the "shortfall will be filled up between today and tomorrow". SKM demands once again that Ashish Mishra, Sumit Jaiswal, Ankit Das and others be arrested immediately, as the SC also said. The SC pointed out that in normal circumstances if 302 case is registered, the Police will go and arrest the accused.

SKM additionally demands the immediate sacking and arrest of Minister Ajay Mishra Teni for promoting enmity, hatred and disharmony and murder, other than hatching the conspiracy against farmers. It is inconceivable that he can continue as a Minister in the Modi Government. He needs to be arrested and sacked immediately, demanded SKM.

12th of October will be marked as "Shaheed Kisan Diwas". SKM appeals to farmers all over UP and India to join the antim ardaas of the five martyrs in Lakhimpur Kheri Farmers Massacre, on the 12th of October, in Tikonia. From there, a series of actions will be taken up to put pressure on Modi and Yogi governments, to secure justice for this massacre of farmers. SKM appeals to people to organise prayer meetings on 12th of October in gurudwaras, temples, churches, mosques and any other public places, and organise prayer and shraddhanjali meetings. SKM appeals that candelight vigils be organised on 12th October evening. All peace-loving citizens are urged to join these candlelight vigils or light 5 candles outside their homes as homage to the 5 martyrs. On this day, all citizens participating in the farmers' movement will re-commit themselves to the struggle until we secure all our demands, and to ensure that the martyrs' sacrifice does not go in vain.

If all demands above (for arrests and sacking of MoS) are not met by 11th of October, SKM will go ahead with a call for all-India rail roko on 18th October. The rail roko will be between 10am and 4pm on 18th October.

SKM is disappointed that the next Hearing of the case will only be on 20th of October now, without any immediate resolution to the pending issues of justice in this case. Moreover, SKM noted the Supreme Court's concerns with regard to UP government investigation as well as CBI inquiry. The SC, through its comments during the Hearing today, had indicated that CBI inquiry is also not a solution because of the persons involved in this case. It is utterly shameful of the Modi Government to have received such scathing remarks from the SC, and for continuing to have Ajay Mishra as a Minister. SKM states that it agrees fully with the Supreme Court on both the local investigation and CBI investigation not being a solution in this case. SKM rejects both the SIT and judicial inquiry set up by UP Government. The Supreme Court also said it was not satisfied. SKM demands an impartial investigation that will report directly to the Supreme Court, and welcomes the Court's order asking UP Police to keep all evidence in tact.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has apologised for his statements made on Sunday in a party workers' meeting, inciting violence against farmers. He said he was retracting his statements. He also cancelled his program in Kaithal tomorrow given that farmers have already announced a protest against his visit and participation in the program. SKM Haryana welcomes these developments and calls it a victory for farmers. SKM also said that the speech of Manohar Lal Khattar reflects a mentality that BJP leaders have, of attempting to make the peaceful protests of the farmers into violent ones and thereby crush them. It is clear that all the earlier tactics of crushing the movement did not succeed and the BJP-RSS forces are now trying to literally crush farmers through violent means. The farmers' movement is fully aware of these dirty tactics, and will keep itself protected from the same. Through democratic and peaceful means, more farmers in more villages will be made aware of BJP's anti-farmer and undemocratic violent mindset, and the movement will be made stronger until all demands are met by the Government, said SKM.

The Lokneeti Satyagraha Padayatra left Bhagwanpur Haat yesterday and reached Jalalpur in Chhapra district last night, after covering 26 kilometers. In the afternoon, it reached Baniapur where in the Inter College of Baniapur, there was a meeting with farmers. Today, on Day 8 of the 18 day padayatra, after leaving Jalalpur, the yatra is proceeding towards Majhi Ghat in Chhapra district, where it will reach tonight after covering 28 kilometers by foot. The Padayatra which is headed to Varanasi after starting in Champaran on Gandhi Jayanti, has by now covered around 140 kilometers, and is retracing the historical Champaran struggle of indigo farmers during the British rule, led by Mahatma Gandhi. The yatra is nearing the Bihar-Uttar Pradesh border and will move onward in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow. Tomorrow, the yatris will reach Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan's village Sitabadiyara. Today's question of the Yatra to Mr Narendra Modi is: "Who is responsible for the failure of our healthcare system that collapsed during the corona pandemic".

Issued by -
Balbir Singh Rajewal, Dr Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Charuni, Hannan Mollah, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Shivkumar Sharma 'Kakkaji', Yudhvir Singh, Yogendra Yadav

Samyukta Kisan Morcha
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