Uttar Pradesh minister Sidharth Nath Singh hit out at Opposition leaders trying to make their way to Lakhimpur Kheri where at least eight persons, four among them being farmers, were killed in clashes on Sunday.
“We are taking this matter seriously and it is under investigation. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that culprits will be punished. The opposition is using the incident for political tourism and political competition as polls are around the corner,” Sidharth Nath Singh told media.
“There is no issue in presenting your opinion. But if they want to complete their journey till 2022 election over dead bodies, then it won’t happen,” he said.
The leader also lashed out at Congress General Secretary (UP) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for attempting to ‘hamper’ the probe through her visit, saying that politicians should at least wait 24 hours or visit after the probe had been initiated properly.
“We’ve seen Priyanka Gandhi Vadra doing political tourism earlier. It is an attempt to hamper the probe and manipulate public opinion. This should not happen. They should at least wait for 24 hours or visit after there is a result of the probe,” Singh added.
Earlier this morning, Priyanka Gandhi was detained by the UP police while she was on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri and party leader Deepender Singh Hooda.
Besides them, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was also taken into police custody as he sat on a dharna outside his residence after being denied permission to visit the violence-hit region.
