Cong leader Sidhu, SAD's Harsimrat meet families of farmers killed in Lakhimpur

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and Shiromani Akali Dals SAD Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday separately met the families of the farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violenceSharing the photos of his meeting with one of the families on Twitter Sidhu said Justice DelayedJustice DeniedSidhu consoled the family members of Lovepreet Singh one of the four farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence on Sunday Later he said What has happened is a barbaric crime Entire India is asking for justice Loss of human lives can never be compensatedHe added that Lovepreet Singhs father said he wants justiceThere is evidence videowitness account is there But arrest is not being made because he Ashish Kumar Mishra is a Union ministers son the Congress leader saidSidhu and Badal also separately met the family members of Raman Kashyap a 28yearold journalist who was among the eight people killed in Sundays violence that erupted during a farmers protestSidhu had earlier demanded the arrest of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishras son in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence saying he would go on a hunger strike if action is not taken against him by FridayAccompanied by a few Congress leaders from Punjab including state ministers and MLAs Sidhu was allowed to head towards Lakhimpur Kheri hours after he was detained at a police station in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh on ThursdayThe Uttar Pradesh police has issued a fresh notice to Ashish Kumar Mishra asking him to appear before it by 11 am on Saturday in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence after he missed his summons for FridayLeading a delegation of SAD leaders former Union minister Badal demanded Mishras immediate dismissal besides the arrest of his son Ashish a statement issued by the party saidBadal visited the residences of the four farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri along with senior SAD leaders Balwinder Singh Bhundur Prem Singh Chandumajra Bikram Singh Majithia Manpreet Singh Ayali besides Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee SGPC chief Jagir KaurFour of the eight people who died in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence were farmers who were allegedly knocked down by vehicles carrying BJP workers Angry farmers then allegedly lynched two workers of the saffron party and their driverThe farmers claimed that Ashish Mishra was in one of the vehicles an allegation denied by him and his fatherBadal said it was condemnable that no action was taken in the heinous case either by the Centre or the Uttar Pradesh government despite clearcut evidenceThe video footage of Ashish Misras vehicle is available There are eyewitness accounts that Ashish Misra fled the scenehe should be arrested on murder charges immediately she was quoted as saying in the SAD statementBadal also pointed out that there is video footage of the Union minister allegedly threatening farmers and inciting violence against themIt is wrong to keep him in the Union cabinet and the Centre should take immediate action against him she addedThe SAD delegation visited Lovepreet Singhs residence at Chaukhra village Nachhattar Singhs house at Namdar Purve Daljeet Singhs residence at Vanjaran Tanda Gurwinder Singhs house at Mohrnia and journalist Raman Kashyaps residence at Nighasan village according to the party statementKaur handed over a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to each of the families of the victims besides assuring them that the SGPC would look after the educational needs of the next of kin of the victimsThere were emotional scenes at the residences of the victims familiesThe bereaved family members said they could never imagine that anyone could mow down innocent farmers returning home after the conclusion of their peaceful protest according to the SAD statementThey also said the Uttar Pradesh government had still not initiated action in the case in earnestThey said the perpetrators were locals and were identified but were not being arrestedAfter meeting Lovepreet Singhs family Badal tweeted The sense of loss and pain they are experiencing is heartwrenching Sharing their grief assured them support in every possible way We are together in this fightThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever