Maharashtra closed today in protest against Lakhimpur Kheri violence – The three coalition parties of the Maharashtra government, Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena have called for a state-wide bandh on Monday in support of the farmers killed in the incident of violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. The three parties will protest the incident by jointly demonstrating. 8 people died in this incident. Of these, 4 were farmers. Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra has been arrested in the case.
Mumbai Police will increase the deployment of its personnel on the roads on Monday to avoid any untoward incident during Maharashtra Bandh. Police officials say that three companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), 500 home guards and 400 personnel from local armed units have already been deployed as additional manpower for security during Navratri. But keeping the bandh in mind, Mumbai Police will use maximum manpower to deal with any situation. On Monday, the number of policemen on the roads will be increased.
These things will be closed
Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Traders Association has also supported this bandh. He says that the markets of Fudge-Vegetable, Onion, Potato will be completely closed on Monday. The merchant organization has appealed to all the traders to keep their shops closed on Monday. He has also appealed to the farmers not to bring their produce to the cities on Monday. However, essential services will continue during this period. The Kisan Sabha has supported this bandh. The organization has said that its workers in 21 districts are coordinating with like-minded organizations to make the bandh a success.
BJP protested
On the other hand, BJP has opposed this Maharashtra bandh. Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the ruling parties are politicizing the matter. BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has also warned the state government not to forcibly close the shops. He says that if the shopkeepers are forced to close the shops by the MVA workers, then they will have to face the BJP workers. He said that the police should ensure that no one is put under pressure.
MVA government wants to make bandh successful
On the other hand, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik had told on Sunday that the state-wide bandh would start from midnight. He had said that the workers of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress are meeting the citizens and urging them to join the bandh and show solidarity with the farmers. The NCP leader said that the MVA has demanded that Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra should be sacked.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress President Nana Patole said that his party workers and leaders will observe a silence to protest outside the Raj Bhavan. Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut had said on Saturday that his party would join the bandh with full force. He had also said that it is necessary to awaken the people against the anti-farmer laws made by the central government.
4 farmers had died
The police on Saturday night arrested Ashish Mishra, the son of a Union minister, in connection with the October 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri. Ashish is accused of riding in one of the vehicles that crushed the farmers opposing the program of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Four farmers had died in this accident.
