No action on mere allegations in Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Yogi

Lucknow: The state government is committed to the law of land that only evidence-based arrests on Lakhimpur Kheri violence will follow, said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Calling the opposition leaders who visit bereaved families 'no goodwill messengers', he said all the culprits behind the violence will face punishment as per the law.

He made this statement while attending a conclave organised by a private news channel. Asserting that there will no injustice to anyone, Yogi said that the government will not heed to any pressure taking action against the names mentioned in the FIR without evidence.

The CM also repudiated the violence upholding the democratic value. As long as the law is there to guarantee security to anyone, no place for violence in a democratic system, he added. Lashing out at the opposition leaders who visit the violence-hit Lakhimpur Kheri, the CM said that the investigation will bring out the real faces behind the attack in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed.

Responding to the allegation that the government is trying to save the BJP leader and Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son, Ashish Mishra, he said that despite urging people to share materials in regards to the incident, no evidence came out proving Ashish's involvement in the incident. At the same time, he said, the action based on mere allegations against anyone is not possible.

In the video being circulated widely on social media, the SUVs allegedly carrying BJP workers can be seen hitting protesting farmers and running over them in which four farmers lost their life. In the melee thereafter, four others lost their lives at the hand of angry farmers.

Farmers have claimed that Ashish Mishra was in one of the vehicles, an allegation denied by him and his father who say they can produce evidence to prove he was at an event at that time.