The Congress on Monday argued that heinous crimes such as mowing down innocent farmers occur when governments start believing in their false propaganda that the protests are organised by criminals and terrorists who need to be ruthlessly crushed.
The Congress recalled the RSS-BJP narrative over the past few months, which ranged from character assassination to threats of retribution, and the Narendra Modi government’s attempt to brand the critics and opponents of farm laws as anti-nationals.
The call by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to form 500-700 volunteers in every district and start giving tit-for-tat lessons to farmers with “lathi” was cited, as was the threat issued by central minister Ajay Misra Teni, whose son is accused of mowing down the farmers.
Both Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and party’s communications chief Randeep Surjewala dwelt on Khattar’s instigation. They also recalled how the Uttar Pradesh BJP put out a cartoon warning farmer leader Rakesh Tikait of Yogi Adityanath’s propensity for peeling off the skin of troublemakers. Several BJP leaders have described the protesting farmers as terrorists, criminals and mawali (hooligan).
Baghel, who was on Monday denied permission to land in Lucknow as he wanted to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, said: “The barbarism seen in Lakhimpur has outraged the nation. The BJP line was to crush the farmers; they are inspired by the British. We were yesterday reminded of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. What is the mindset of the central government? So many states have passed resolutions against farm laws, agitations are going on for nine months, is this the way to treat farmers in a democracy?”
Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s chopper was not given permission to land in Lucknow. Deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was stopped at Haryana-Uttar Pradesh border as he was trying to go to Lakhimpur.
Baghel said: “Have the normal civic rights been suspended in Uttar Pradesh? It is normal for politicians and social workers to visit people who have suffered tragedy, to console the affected families, to demand justice. This autocratic behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Channi also wondered how the government could disallow the people’s movement.
The Congress central leadership is convinced this was a planned conspiracy, not an accident that occurred in Lakhimpur and hence the main target remained the Prime Minister. Most Congress leaders wondered why the Prime Minister had not sacked the Union minister of state for home after his involvement in the crime became obvious. They also questioned his silence. Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “He who is silent on this inhuman massacre is dead already. But we will not allow this sacrifice to go waste.”
New recruit Kanhaiya Kumar tweeted: “Prachar-mantri who speaks nonsense on every issue is silent on farmers’ death. Is the secret of his silence is that he eats commission from the dishonest, not the food produced by the farmers?”
In another tweet, he said: “Dhongiji (reference to Adityanath) should have used his energies to stop the car of the errant son of central minister instead of stopping the 2 opposition leaders from meeting the victim’s families. Look at the highhandedness — will passport be required to move around in our country now?”
Former Union minister and Congress veteran Salman Khurshid, who wanted to reach Sitapur to provide legal assistance to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who was detained there, was not allowed to step out of his home by the police. Khurshid later tweeted: “Cry beloved country because tears too have been arrested. It is a crime to stand by hurt humanity. Dark days are here. But we will light a million lamps to counter evil unleashed upon our land.”
Party general secretary in charge of the organisation K.C. Venugopal issued instructions to state units to hold protests at every district headquarters across the country against the illegal detention of Priyanka Gandhi.
Protests will continue on Tuesday while massive demonstrations happened over a dozen places on Monday itself.
