Tikait seeks MoS Mishra resignation, warns of nationwide agitation: Key developments

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that farmers are being "systematically attacked" and there is "dictatorship" in India now with politicians not being allowed to visit Uttar Pradesh to meet the families of the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
Here are the key developments:
Priyanka, Rahul lead Congress delegation to Lakhimpur
Curtains came down on Congress party’s protest over the Lakhimpur incident when the state government allowed a five-member delegation of political parties to visit Lakhimpur and meet the family members of those killed in October 3 incidents in the presence of local administration.
Thereafter Congress party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who was under detention in Sitapur since October 5 was released. Party chief Rahul Gandhi, who reached Lucknow on Wednesday afternoon at around 2 pm with Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Rajya Sabha MP Deependra Hooda, party general secretary KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala joined her at Sitapur at around quarter past five.
A few moments later, the Gandhi siblings along with Baghel, Channi, and Hooda left for Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the family members of the deceased farmers. State administration allowed only five to travel for Lakhimpur Kheri.
Rahul, Punjab, Chhattisgarh CMs now allowed out of Lucknow airport
After haggling for over an hour over the mode of transport, senior UP officials finally allowed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to leave the Lucknow airport.
A huge crowd had gathered at the airport to welcome the Congress leader who was accompanied by Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel and Charanjit Singh Channi, respectively.
Less than an hour after the Uttar Pradesh government said Gandhi would be allowed to visit Lakhimpur Kheri - where violence at a farmers' protest on Sunday had left at nine dead, security personnel stopped him at the Lucknow airport.
An angry Rahul, who was accompanied by Baghel, and Channi, sat on a 'dharna' at the airport.
Tikait demands sacking of MOS Mishra, arrest of all accused; warns of nationwide agitation
BKU leader Rakesh Tikait demanded the resignation of Union minister Ajay Mishra and the arrest of all accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, warning that a nationwide agitation will be launched if authorities failed to implement within a week the agreement made with the farmers here.
Tikait, who is among the prominent leaders of the agitation against the Centre's agri laws, had brokered the agreement between the authorities and the farmers on October 4 here, after which they had ended their protest and the families of the four deceased farmers had agreed to their post-mortem.
After reaching an understanding, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, in the presence of Tikait, had informed of the government's decision to give Rs 45 lakh each to families of the victim farmers and set up a judicial probe under a retired High Court judge.
"Our protest has not ended. We will wait till eight days since the agreement and if the demands are not fulfilled a nationwide agitation would be launched," Tikait told reporters at a Gurdwara in Lakhimpur city on Wednesday.
MoS Home Ajay Mishra resumes office, assures 'fair probe' in Lakhimpur Kheri incident
Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni on Wednesday assured "fair investigation" into the murder case registered against himself and his son in connection with Sunday's incident at Lakhimpur Kheri in which eight people died.
Teni joined work at his office at the ministry of home affairs situated in North Block here and also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah where he is according to sources understood to have briefed him about the Lakhimpuri incident.
UP govt grants permission to all political parties to visit Lakhimpur Kheri
The UP government on Wednesday granted permission to all political parties to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, where eight people died as violence erupted during a farmers' protest on Sunday. However, only five people will be allowed at a time, a top official said.
Priyanka Gandhi released from Sitapur
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has been relesed from Sitapur 2nd PAC battalion. She will visit Lakhimpur Kheri with Rahul Gandhi later today.
Priyanka Gandhi alleged that she was being held illegally at the PAC compound in Sitapur and no notice or FIR has been provided to her. Officials said the Uttar Pradesh Police had booked her and 10 other people under sections related to preventive custody due to apprehension of breach of peace. Priyanka was in detention at the PAC compound in Sitapur since Monday morning. She was on her way to meet the families of farmers killed in Sunday's violence in Lakhimpur Kheri.
Lakhimpur Kheri live updates
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka allowed to visit Lakhimpur Kheri
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government on Wednesday granted permission to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and three other people to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. Rahul arrived at Lucknow airport ahead of his visit to Lakhimpur Kheri. He is accompanied by senior party leaders including Bhupesh Baghel, Charanjit Channi, KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala.
"The state government has given permission to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and three other people to visit Lakhimpur Kheri," informed the home department of the Uttar Pradesh government.

MoS Ajay Kumar Mishra meets Union home minister Amit Shah
Union minister of state (MoS) for home affairs Ajay Mishra Teni on Wednesday met Amit Shah at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi. This is Teni's first meeting with the Union home minister after the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of several farmer unions, alleged that Ashish Mishra Teni, son of Ajay Mishra Teni arrived with three vehicles around the time that farmers were dispersing from their protest at the helipad and mowed down farmers. The association also alleged that towards the end, SKM leader Tajinder Singh Virk was also attacked directly.
Opposition parties have also demanded Ajay Mishra's resignation in the aftermath of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

Rahul slams PM Modi for not visiting Lakhimpur Kheri
Slamming PM Narendra Modi for not visiting the site of violence in Lakhimpur Kheri where 8 people - including 4 farmers - died on Sunday, Rahul said, "Yesterday PM Modi visited Lucknow but he didn't visit Lakhimpur Kheri. It's a systematic attack on farmers".
Congress leader Sachin Pilot en route to Sitapur by road from Delhi
Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot landed in Delhi on Wednesday morning and set out for Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh by road straight from the airport, sources close to him said.
Pilot, who arrived here on a flight from Jaipur, will also try to visit Lakhimpur to meet the grieving families, the sources said. The Ghaziabad Police, meanwhile, launched a special checking drive upon getting information about Pilot's intended visit to Lakhimpur Kheri.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is in detention at the PAC compound in Sitapur since Monday morning. She was on her way to meet the families of farmers killed in Sunday's violence when she was stopped.
Delhi CM questions why political leaders stopped from going to Lakhimpur Kheri
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that on one side the government is celebrating 75 years of Independence while on the other, political leaders are being stopped from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri.
"On one side, the government is celebrating 75 years of Independence, on the other side, political leaders are being stopped from visiting Lakhimpur Kheri. What's the reason behind it? PM ji, the country wants the accused to be arrested & the Union minister be removed from the post," he said in a tweet.
Internet services shut in Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur
Internet services were shut down in Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur on Wednesday, following reports that some Congress leaders were on their way to meet party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and also the families of the victims. Though there was no official communication of the shutdown of services, a senior official said that this had been done as a precautionary measure. "We will thwart all attempts to create tension in the area. The shutdown may be lifted by evening if no untoward incident takes place," he said.
Free Priyanka Gandhi Vadra or I’ll reach UP, says Navjot Singh Sidhu
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Tuesday that the Uttar Pradesh police should arrest Union minister of state Ajay Mishra’s son, Ashish, and release Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by Wednesday, or he will lead a protest march to Lakhimpur Kheri. In a tweet, Sidhu said: “When in doubt, walk the path of truth, and never compromise on moral values!! ‘Moral Authority’ thy name is @Priyanka-Gandhi.”

Section 144 imposed in Lakhimpur
The district magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri has imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which prohibits assembly of five or more people at a time, following the Sunday incident.
Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday registered an FIR against Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Varda and 11 others for "disturbing the peace" in the state.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had claimed that she has been detained for the last 40 hours without any order or FIR.
UP govt denies permission to Rahul Gandhi for Lakhimpur Kheri visit
Uttar Pradesh government has denied permission to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Lakhimpur Kheri district in wake of law and order situation, said DK Thakur, Lucknow police commissioner, on Wednesday.
"The government has denied permission to Rahul Gandhi. If he arrives in Lucknow, we will request him at the airport not to visit Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur. Superintendent of Police (SP) and District Magistrate (DM) of Lakhimpur and Sitapur urged us to stop him from coming in wake of local law and order situation," said the Lucknow police commissioner.