Farmers gathered in Tikunia village, Lakhimpur Kheri, on Monday to pay tribute to the four farmers and the journalist mowed down exactly a year ago by a vehicle owned by Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni. The minister’s son, Ashis, was allegedly in the vehicle that hit the farmers from behind and ploughed through them as they were returning from a protest on October 3, 2021, days after Teni had publicly warned protesting farmers that he would fix them.

On Monday, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait told the 600 people gathered in the Uttar Pradesh village to remember the dead: “We have not forgotten the Kheri case nor will the government be allowed to forget it. Nothing short of Ajay Mishra’s dismissal will be acceptable to us.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “One year has passed but the martyrs of Lakhimpur have not got justice. Like always, the BJP is protecting the criminals. When we decided to start the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the farmers’ movement was a big inspiration. This struggle will not end without ensuring justice to farmers.”