The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a six-hour-long nationwide ‘rail roko’ agitation on Monday. SKM – An umbrella body of farmers union has said to stage the agitation from 10 am to 4 pm, demanding the removal of Union Minister of State (MoS) of Home Affairs, Ajay Misra from the Cabinet over the alleged involvement of his son, Ashish Misra in Lakhimpur Kheri violence incident.
A statement issued by SKM on Sunday read, “To press for its demand for MoS Ajay Mishra`s dismissal and arrest, so that justice can be secured in Lakhimpur Kheri violence, SKM has announced a nation-wide rail roko program on October 18.”
Demanding the dismissal of MoS Ajay Misra, the umbrella body of farmers’ unions said that with Ajay Misra being in the union cabinet, justice cannot be secured in this matter.
The SKM has assured that the agitation will be staged in a “peaceful” manner and there will be no harm caused to railway property.
As many as nine people including four farmers and a journalist had died in the Lakhimpur Kheri Violence incident on October 3. The SKM has alleged Ashish Misra was sitting in one of the cars which ran over the protesting farmers.
Ashish Mishra was arrested and sent to jail by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on October 9. However, Mishra has still maintained his statement that he was not present in the car when the incident took place.
