New Delhi, Oct 22 (Agency) Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav on Friday said that he had visited the house of BJP worker Shubham Mishra, who had died in the UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri violence on October 3, not to ”glorify” him but to pay his condolences to the bereaved family. “After paying my tribute to the four martyr farmers and a journalist that were murdered at Lakhimpur Kheri, I went to the house of the BJP worker Shubham Mishra, who lost his life in the same incident, not to glorify him but to pay my condolences to his grieving family.
To me, sharing grief of everyone, including our adversaries, is a principle that draws upon humanitarianism as well as Indian culture,” Yadav said in a statement, a day after being suspended by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) for a month for visiting the family of the deceased BJP worker. SKM is the umbrella body of farmer organistaions spearheading the agitation against three farm laws enacted by the Centre last year. Mishra was a part of the convoy of Ashish Mishra, son of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, and BJP worker was lynched by farmers after the convoy ran over farmers, killing five people. He was among four from the convoy who died in the subsequent violence. He, however, expressed regret that he had not consulted with his colleagues in SKM before taking this decision. “In any public movement like this one, collective wisdom must prevail above individual understanding. I regret not consulting my colleagues in SKM before taking this decision. I also regret that this has hurt many of my colleagues involved in the farmers’ movement.
I respect the collective decision-making process of the SKM and gladly submit myself to the punishment awarded to me,” Yadav said. He further said that he will continue to work, more diligently than ever, for the success of the farmers’ movement. During his suspension, Yadav would not be allowed to speak from the stage of SKM, though he can participate at protest sites. He would also not be a part of the meetings. On October 12, Yadav had met the family of Mishra in Lakhimpur Kheri.