Sharad Pawar Slams BJP For ‘Jallianwala Bagh-Like Massacre’ In UP’s Lakhimpur

Mumbai: The outrage over the violence that erupted in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri over a farmers’ protest, leaving eight people killed, is growing by the hour.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar was the latest to hit out at BJP-led governments in UP and at the Centre for “misuse of power”.

Demanding a probe into the incident headed by a Supreme Court judge, the veteran politician compared the violence to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre during India’s freedom movement.

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“Our country gives the right to protest. Accordingly, farmers gathered at Lakhimpur Kheri and were holding a silent protest. At that time, people related to those who are in government — be it Uttar Pradesh or at the Centre — tried to suppress their voice and were mowed down by a jeep which led to the loss of lives of six to eight farmers. Those who are in the BJP government at Centre and in Uttar Pradesh are responsible for this act,” Pawar said, assuring farmers that they are not alone.

Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister of state for Home affairs Ajay Mishra Teni, has been booked for murder and criminal conspiracy in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. It has been alleged that Ashish Mishra mowed down four farmers with his SUV during the protest on Sunday.

Ashish Mishra has denied the charges, saying he was not in the car and not at the scene of the incident when it took place.

“The Uttar Pradesh government has created a situation similar to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and will have to pay the price one day,” said Pawar. “I want the investigation to be conducted by a sitting Supreme Court judge so that the truth comes out.”