CHANDIGARH: Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and other Congress MLAs, who were on their way to Lakhimpur Kheri, were forcibly detained by the Uttar Pradesh police on Monday evening and taken to Shahjahanpur police post under Sarsawa police station in Saharanpur district.
They were going to meet the families of the victims who were on Sunday allegedly run over by the vehicle of a central minister’s son. Others accompanying Randhawa were Punjab Congress working president and MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra, MLAs Parminder Singh Pinky, Barindermeet Singh Pahra, Kuldeep Vaid, Kulbir Singh Zira and Angad Singh.
"Our Deputy CM @Sukhjinder_INC & MLAs have been detained at the UP Haryana Border. I condemn such tyranny being done by the UP Govt," Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi tweeted.
As the Uttar Pradesh government refused to grant permission to Randhawa to land at the Lucknow airport, he left by road accompanied by other MLAs and party leaders. The deputy chief minister demanded that the culprits must be arrested immediately.
He also likened the incident to the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy and said that the Union government and the Uttar Pradesh government would never be forgiven for this.
The deputy chief minister said that the Punjab government would raise its voice at every forum regarding this ‘horrendous incident’ and ensure justice to the victims' families. Promising justice in the matter, Randhawa appealed to the farmers to maintain peace.
UP denies permission to CM, deputy CM
The BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government on Monday denied permission to chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Randhawa to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, citing imposition of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits the assembly of more than five people.
Punjab chief minister’s office said the UP home secretary informed the director civil aviation, Punjab, in response to his letter seeking permission for landing and taking off of the chief minister’s chopper at Lakhimpur Kheri, that it is not feasible to grant permission keeping in view of the law and order situation.
Channi had planned to meet the bereaved families but on Sunday ordered Randhawa and MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra to visit the place of incident to ascertain the situation and share sympathies with the victim families.
Memo to PM: Ask UP to ensure justice
Channi on Monday submitted a memorandum to governor Banwarilal Purohit along with his cabinet colleagues, urging the government to take firm steps in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Addressed to PM Narendra Modi, the memorandum urged him to impress upon the UP government to take firm steps in ensuring justice to victim families.
Channi also reiterated the need to urgently review and repeal the three farm laws causing resentment amongst farmers.
He mentioned that he was constrained to bring to the Prime Minister’s notice that the recent incident of violence at Lakhimpur Kheri had shaken the conscience of one and all. “It is all the more painful that our ‘anndattas’ (farmers) have lost lives in this unfortunate act while protesting peacefully against the farm laws,” he added.
Seeking Prime Minister’s personal intervention, the CM said faces of people behind the act should be exposed.
