Thousands Gather For Final Rites Of Farmers & Journalist

Priyanka Not Allowed To Speak On Stage

- Kanwardeep.Singh @timesgroup.com

Tikunia: Despite many farmers being stopped at Kheri borders, nearly 20,000, by some estimates, gathered at a field in Tikunia less than a km from the site of the Lakhimpur Kheri killings for the last rites of four farmers and a journalist who died in the violence. Farmer leaders said the protests will grow stronger every day until Union minister Ajay Mishra, whose son Ashish has been accused of killing the farmers and the journalist, is sacked.

Around 10am, the Antim Ardas, or final rites, for the four farmers — Lovepreet Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Nachattar Singh and Daljeet Singh — were held at the Kaudiyala Sahib gurdwara. After the ritual, the scene shifted to the protest gathering, where farmer leaders from Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh joined. Posters honouring the four farmers and the journalist, Raman Kashyap, as “martyrs” lined the massive tent under which the protesters gathered.