MP only BJP leader who has been publicly backing farmers

Siding with the farmers on the violent accident that led to eight deaths in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur district, BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Tuesday tweeted a viral video that appears to show farmers being run over by an SUV.

Varun is the only BJP leader who has been publicly backing the farmers, demanding and advocating their respectful treatment and has taken a position away from the official BJP line on the issue.

“This video will shake anyone’s soul,” the BJP leader wrote and appealed for “immediate arrests”.

“In Lakhimpur, the video that shows cars running over farmers will shake anyone’s soul. Police should take note of this video and identify the owners of the car, those sitting in the car and others involved to make immediate arrests,” the BJP MP from UP’s Pilibhit said in a tweet in Hindi.

The viral video — which has been shared by many in the Opposition — is yet to be verified by the police.

No arrests have been made in the Lakhimpur violence which has now become a national issue with all Opposition parties criticising the ruling BJP over the handling of the case.

Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra is the only person named in the murder case. He has denied he was at the spot and claimed that he was attending a wrestling programme away from the place of the incident.

Mishra has claimed that “anti-social elements” have infiltrated the farmers’ movement.

On the report that he has dropped “BJP” word from his twitter bio, the BJP MP from Pilibhit said, “ I never had  that on my twitter.”

Varun has   demanded a Supreme Court -monitored probe into the Lakhimpur incident.

The  farmers’ protest  against three-Central farm laws allowing selling farmers produce outside the Mandis   has gained national attention less than six  months ahead of the  high-stake State election battle in UP.

On Sunday, the farmers, who had assembled to protest against the BJP, said the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district started after their car mowed down the protesters.

Four of the dead were farmers, allegedly knocked down by vehicles driven by BJP workers travelling to welcome Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to an event in the area.

The others were BJP workers and their driver who were allegedly pulled out of the vehicles and lynched. Two cars were set on fire.