BJP Minister’s Son Runs SUV Over Farmers; 8 Dead In Violence

At least 8 people died and many injured in violence after BJP’s Union Minister of State Ajay Misra’s son Ashish Misra allegedly ran his SUV over protesting farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district in Sunday. While 4 farmers died after Ashish Misra’s car ran over the farmers, 4 people belonging to Ashish Misra’s convoy lost their lives in the violent clashes and arson that broke out soon after the car trampling incident.

The farmers were protesting against the union government’s 3 controversial farm bills ahead of an event in Tikunia, the paternal village of Union MoS Ajay Misra. According to local witnesses, the protestors had first planned to show black flags to the Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was the chief guest at the event.

The farmers also staged a protest in front of Ashish Misra’s car while he was on his way to receive Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya. The members and leaders of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) have alleged that this was the exact moment when Ashish Misra ran his car over the protesting farmers and claimed 4 lives.

Within no time, violent protests and arson broke out and enraged farmers burnt down 3 cars, including Ashish Misra’s car. Videos of farmers torching the cars and attacking Ashish Misra’s men are going viral on social media. UP CM Yogi Adityanath has directed ADG Prashant Kumar to bring the situation under control in Lakhimpur Kheri.

The incident witnessed a huge nationwide uproar. Several opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayavati and Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait have vehemently condemned the ruling BJP government’s atrocities on the protesting farmers. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was arrested on Sunday night while she was going to Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the victims’ families.

On the other hand, CM Yogi Adityanath condemned the “unfortunate” trampling incident and vowed that his government would investigate the incident and “expose the perpetrators involved in causing the violence”.