'Illegal, Shameful': Chidambaram, Rahul on Lakhimpur Unrest, Priyanka's Arrest

The Yogi government is in the eye of the storm after the death of eight people in Lakhimpur Kheri on 3 October.

Lakhimpur unrest.

(Photo: The Quint)

The Yogi Adityanath government is in the eye of the storm after the death of eight people in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday, 3 October, following unrest over farm laws.

The farmers were allegedly run over by the car of Ashish Misra, son of Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Ajay Misra.

As leaders queued up to visit Lakhimpur to meet the family of the deceased farmers, the UP government issued prohibitory orders, leading to the arrest of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in the wee hours of Monday.

Reacting to the developments, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to say that the Yogi government was scared of his sister's courage. "The one who's silent over this inhuman massacre is already dead. We won't let their sacrifices go in vain," he said.

Calling Priyanka Gandhi's arrest "completely illegal" and "utterly shameful", Congress leader P Chidambaram noted on Tuesday that Gandhi "was arrested at 4:30 am, before sunrise by a male police officer. She is not been taken to a judicial magistrate so far yet."

Reiterating the absence of law and order in UP, he added, "Several provisions of the law have been violated. Law and Order seems to have a different meaning in Uttar Pradesh. Law means, Adityanath's law & order means Adityanath's order. It's a gross violation of her constitutional rights," news agency ANI reported.

Shashi Tharoor said the visuals of Priyanka Gandhi and Deepender Hooda being manhandled "stir the blood."

"The video of @priyankagandhi & @deependerSHooda standing up to police intimidation stirs the blood. Citizens are entitled to know the grounds of their arrest & cannot be manhandled: cops, save that for those who drive over protesting farmers! (sic)," he said.

Former Communist Party of India (CPI) and present Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar wrote in Hindi, In Lakhimpur, the minister's car crushed the farmers and the government is celebrating in Lucknow."

'Naya J&K': Omar Abdullah, Others React

Former J&K chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah called UP "the new J&K."

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav called the alleged killing "barbaric."

On Tuesday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut met with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. Prior to the meeting, he said "If the law is equal for everyone then why Priyanka Gandhi is in jail and the minister is roaming free?"

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera reiterated Raut's remarks, saying that "while Priyanka Gandhi remains in detention, the minister responsible for mowing down farmers roams free."

He went on to state that arresting a leader for simply visiting a victim of violence characterises the 'Naya Bharat' under the Narendra Modi government.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Harish Rawat also reached Rahul Gandhi's residence in New Delhi.

Punjab, West Bengal CM Express Condemnation

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that a delegation of TMC leaders will visit the families of the deceased.

"I strongly condemn the barbaric incident in Lakhimpur Kheri. The apathy of @BJP4India towards our farmer brethren pains me deeply. A delegation of 5 @AITCofficial MPs will be visiting the families of the victims tomorrow. Our farmers will always have our unconditional support," she said.

"This is a very sad and unfortunate incident. I have no words to condemn this incident. They (BJP govt) don't believe in democracy, they only want autocracy. Is this 'Ram rajya'? No, this is 'killing rajya'," she was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Punjab CM Charanjit Channi said that the culprits should be booked immediately.

"Felt wretched on the shocking incident at Lakhimpur Kheri, UP. No one can escape the law. The police should immediately arrest the culprits and the law should take its course," he said.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that "there should a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge".

"Before that, the union minister must be dismissed or suspended at least during inquiry as the incident took place with respect to his convoy," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

"The farmers were murdered and now MP Sanjay Singh ji, who is going to express condolences to his family, is halted by the police and administration officials on the road all night. You will pay a heavy price for all these tears of the farmers' family," AAP leader Manish Sisodia tweeted in Hindi.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren condemned the violence that took place in Lakhimpur on Monday, and the "undemocratic attempts" to detain the Opposition leaders that followed.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Pilot implied that the BJP-led government's arrest of Priyanka Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh evinces that they're scared.

“You saw how they behaved with Priyanka Gandhi. I feel that the manhandling with any one leader shows that the BJP governments in the state and Centre are scared,” Pilot was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu also lauded Priyanka Gandhi's courage, sharing a video of her detainment.

"Arrested for protesting against atrocities of the Central Government... barbaric murders of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, UP. We stand firmly with the Farmers, till our last breath," Sidhu tweeted.

Compensation Announced

The Uttar Pradesh government will be giving Rs 45 lakh and a government job to the families of the four farmers who died in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday, 3 October, Additional Director General (Law & Order) Prashant Kumar has said, reports ANI.

"The injured will be given Rs 10 lakh. FIR will be registered based on farmers' complaint. A retired high court judge will probe the matter," he further said.

"Leaders of political parties have not been allowed to visit the district because Section 144 of CrPC is in place. However, members of farmer unions are allowed to come here," he added.