All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took part in the ‘antim ardas’ of the farmers who were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a ‘shaheed kisan diwas‘ to pay tribute to farmers who lost their lives during the October 3 violence.

“October 12th  will be marked as Shaheed Kisan Diwas all over India on SKM’s call. Tomorrow, the ‘antim ardaas’ of the martyrs of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre will take place in Tikunia at Sahebjada Inter College. Preparations are being made for the same and tens of thousands of farmers are expected to join this prayer meeting,” a statement by SKM said on Monday.

The organisation appealed to people to light candles in memory of the farmers who died in the violence. The statement also condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre and questioned why Ajay Kumar Mishra, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs was not sacked yet.

Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Backdrop

Farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws, namely, Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020; and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and demanding that they be repealed.

In the Lakhimpur incident, an SUV belonging to Mishra rammed into a group of protestors resulting in the death of farmers. In the violence that ensued, eight, including farmers were killed, triggering protests and political slugfest. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who made an attempt to visit the families of victims, was detained for about a day, before being allowed to enter the village along with her brother and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.