Being a political leader doesn't mean crushing people under cars: UP BJP chief

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh on Sunday said that being a political leader doesn't mean that one "mow down anyone by a Fortuner car".

His remarks came amid allegations against Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni for mowing down farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri.

This is the first time that a BJP leader has spoken out against the Lakhimpur incident in which nine persons including four farmers were allegedly mowed down by an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).

The UP BJP chief was addressing the party workers at the inaugural session of the state executive of the party's minority front in Lucknow on Sunday evening.

"We have not come in politics to loot (people), nor have we come to crush someone under a Fortuner (SUV). "You will get votes by your behaviour. If 10 people of your locality are praising you, my heart swells (with pride). Your behaviour should be such that people do not turn away their faces after seeing you," Singh said in what is now being seen as a direct indictment of Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son, Ashish Mishra, who is the main accused in the incident.

Four farmers were mowed down by the SUV when a group agitating against the Centre's three new farm laws was demonstrating against the visit of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Two BJP workers and a driver were allegedly beaten to death by the angry protesters, while a local journalist was also killed in the violence.

Meanwhile, the farmer unions said if the government does not accept their demands by October 11, they will take out a 'Shaheed Kisan Yatra' from Lakhimpur Kheri with the ashes of slain farmers. A nine-member team headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Upendra Agarwal has been formed to investigate the FIR lodged against the minister's son and others in the violence case.