LUCKNOW: Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the role of farmers in the Indian freedom struggle, Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday asked the PM to visit Lakhimpur Kheri and lend an ear to the problems being faced by farmers.
Detained at the PAC centre in Sitapur since the wee hours of Sunday, she took to social media to address the PM.
“You will be reaching Lucknow to chair a function to mark India’s independence. I request you to recall the role of farmers in the freedom movement. Farmers have been staging a protest for months to raise their issues. But you have paid no heed. You must pay a visit to Lakhimpur Kheri and lend an ear to their problems,” said Priyanka in her video message, adding that the children of many of these farmers work on the borders as well.
Priyanka also showed a video of the events in Lakhimpur Kheri on the screen and shot a series of question towards the PM.
“I have come to know that you will be visiting Lucknow for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav function. Have you seen this video? Why hasn’t your government removed the minister whose son has been accused of this conspiracy? Also, why hasn’t this man been arrested? Leaders like us who want to visit Lakhimpur have been put under custody without any FIR?” Gandhi said in the video.
Priyanka also issued a statement on her arrest later in the evening. She said: “I have not been served with order or notice. Nor have they shown me an FIR. I have not been produced in front of a magistrate or any other judicial officer either. I have also not been allowed to meet my legal counsel who has been standing at the gate since morning.”
