New Delhi, Oct 6 (FN Agency) Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, reached Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday night, and met the families of the farmers who died after being run over by a convoy of car, including one owned by Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra. The Congress leaders met with the family of Lovepreet, a 20-year-old who was among those who had died in the incident on Sunday. They also met the family of Journalist Raman Kashyap. Mr Gandhi had reached Lucknow on Wednesday afternoon, while Priyanka Gandhi had been under arrest in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur since early hours of Monday.
While Rahul Gandhi was stopped at the Lucknow airport briefly, the Congress leaders were eventually allowed by the administration to visit Lakhimpur. Priyanka Gandhi joined the convoy from Sitapur, after she was released by the police which had kept her under arrest at Sitapur Guesthouse. Both Baghel and Channi also announced Rs 50 lakh compensation for four farmers and a journalist who were killed when three cars, one of which was registered in the name of the MoS, run over them as they were returning from a protest against the minister’s visit to the area. Eye witnesses have alleged that the Minister’s son, Ashish Mishra was in one of the vehicles. Four people from the convoy were also killed after they were allegedly lynched by angry crowd.