Lakhimpur: Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), comprising 31 farmers’ bodies, began a 75-hour protest at Rajapur Krishi Mandi in Lakhimpur Kheri district on Thursday.
Social activist Medha Patkar also joined the protesting farmers.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who had spearheaded the year-long farmers’ protest against the Central government’s controversial farm laws, is again at the forefront of the dharna.
The farmers are demanding the sacking of Union minister of state Ajay Mishra Teni and release of four farmers who were imprisoned in connection with last October’s Lakhimpur Kheri violence which led to eight people losing their lives.
Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra was named as the main accused in the chargesheet submitted to the court.
He was arrested, but released from jail earlier this year after fulfilling bail conditions pronounced by Allahabad High Court.
Farmers were staging a protest in Tikunia village on October 3, 2021, when four of them were crushed under the wheels of a convoy of cars. Four others – 2 BJP workers, a journalist and driver — were killed in the violence that followed.
