The Shiv Sena on Monday backed BJP MP Varun Gandhi for his support of the farmer's movement after the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. They appealed to the farmer organisations to pass a resolution that celebrates him for his stand on the issue.
With the death of four farmers, the incident has drawn strong reactions from farmer leaders and opposition parties that attacked the Centre and the UP governments, both of which are led by the BJP.
‘Saamana’, a Sena mouthpiece, in its editorial said, “The country cannot afford attempts being made to spread animosity. Varun Gandhi is the grandson of (former prime minister) Indira Gandhi and son of Sanjay Gandhi. After seeing the Lakhimpur horror, his blood boiled and he expressed his opinion,” the editorial said.
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The Marathi publication also said that Varun Gandhi had shown political courage without a thought for consequences and condemned the killing of the farmers.
The ‘Maharashtra bandh’ on Monday, called by the ruling allies Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress if for those who cannot express their feeling openly, said the editorial.
Varun Gandhi on Sunday warned that any attempt to rewrite the narrative of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident into a “Hindu vs Sikh battle” is dangerous and could create fault lines and reopen wounds that took an entire generation to heal.
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He said, "To use the word 'Khalistani' liberally to describe the protesting farmers is not only an insult to the generations of these proud sons of the Tarai who have fought and shed blood on our borders, but it is also extremely dangerous for our national unity if this provokes the wrong kind of reaction.”
Ashish Mishra, the son of Ajay Mishra, Union Minister of State for Home, was named in an FIR after allegations of him being in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers during the protest. He was arrested on October 3 on charges of being involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.