Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Democracy under threat in country, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Ashok Gehlot. File Pic

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot hit out at BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh over the killing of farmers in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri, saying democracy was under "threat" in the country.

His remarks came after multiple opposition leaders were stopped from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri. Addressing a dharna at the Rajasthan Congress Pradesh Committee (PCC) office against the Lakhimpur violence and detention of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Gehlot said the video of the incident shared by Gandhi is sufficient to substantiate the allegation and no other evidence is needed.

Priyanka Gandhi shared a video on Twitter, which showed a group of protesting farmers being mowed down by an SUV. "The situation is dreadful. What happened in Lakhimpur Kheri is not a small thing; this has shaken the whole country," Gehlot said.

The senior Congress leader urged the people to come forward as democracy was under "threat" in the country. "The popularity graph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming down and people have understood that there is a difference in his words and actions," the chief minister said.

Gehlot said the DNA of Congress and the country is one. "Fascist forces keep coming and going but the Congress party has been running since the time of Mahatma Gandhi," he said. PCC president Govind Singh Dotasara and other leaders also addressed the protesters.

Eight people died and several others were injured on Sunday in the bloodiest clash since the farmers' protest over the Centre's agri laws began last year. 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 allegedly pulled out of the vehicles and then lynched by the protesters. The UP Police has lodged a case against Union minister Ajay Mishra's son but no arrest has been made so far.

Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi arrested, kept in PAC guesthouse

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