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Lakhimpur crisis and Yogi Government (Special Report)

How was the Lakhimpur crisis diffused by Yogi Adityanath Government within 24 Hrs-?

The Lakhimpur incident of mowing down of farmers by a BJP Minister’s son leading to the death of 8 people came as a bolt from the blue for Yogi Adityanath Government. The government was already facing embarrassment and a concerted attack from opposition on the Gorakhpur issue where a business man died as a result of Police brutality during a hotel raid. 

The Lakhimpur incident led to a national outrage as it was alleged that the power drunk son of union state minister for home Ajay Mishra Teni ran over Sikh farmer’s protesting over a previous remark of minister in which he had threatened to weed them out of the borders of the district. 

The galvanisation of farmers from across the country over the Lakhimpur issue and the announcement by Rakesh Tikait,  Ex CM Akhilesh Yadav, Priyanka Gandhi, Sanjay Singh, Bhupesh Bhagel CM Chhattisgarh & farmer’s leaders from other states sent panic waves across the Government of a major impending law and order situation in Lakhimpur Kheri and other adjoining districts. 

Sensing the impending trouble a high powered meeting was held directly by CM UP & it was decided to send senior officers from lucknow as emissaries of Govt who have impeccable career record, wide exposure of law and order situation, good negotiation skills and public credibility. 

The unanimous choice for this was 1990 batch IPS police officer Prashant Kumar, ADG Law & order UP, who’s been Govt’s troubleshooter on a day to day basis. 

Another name which was narrowed down for an experienced IAS officer was of Devesh Chaturvedi, ACS Agriculture & appointment. Devesh Chaturvedi has been regarded as a professional and non controversial officer carrying an impeccable image and carrying a wide experience. 

Once their names were narrowed down these officers were asked to rush to Lakhimpur Kheri in the minimum time possible. 

Once these officers reached Lakhimpur they were faced with the herculean task of maintain law and order in Lakhimpur, assuage the sentiments of bereaved family members, neutralise enraged public, confidence building, strike a dialogue with Farmer leaders, brief the media & also take directions from Govt & give them regular inputs about the unfolding dynamics on the ground.

These officers were assisted by IG range Laxmi Singh & commissioner lucknow Ranjan kumar on the ground who had already reached before them to prepare the requisite ground for an amicable resolution of the stalemate. 

As per inputs from the ground, as part of their strategy Prashant Kumar and Devesh Chaturvedi zeroed down on a threefold strategy. 

In the first stage DM/ SSP were engaged in holding parleys with Rakesh Tikait and other Sikh leaders.

Depending on the outcome IG and Commissioner were kept in the second layer of communication and Prashant Kumar and Devesh chaturvedi were kept in the third layer of communication. 

Once the negotiations started with the farmer leaders including Rakesh Tikait they soon reached deadlock as the farmer leaders placed several unreasonable demands which could not be met by the Government. 

The officers on the ground were categorically told by the higher ups in lucknow that such unreasonable demands could not be met which necessitated a second round of dialogue. 

The second round of dialogue was initiated by IG Range Lucknow Laxmi Singh & Commissioner Lucknow Ranjan Kumar who took the deliberation a notch higher and made significant progress. 

The biggest stumbling block was a demand in the first round of negotiation which demanded termination of the union Minister for home Ajay Mishra Teni & one crore as compensation. 

IG Laxmi Singh & Commissioner Ranjan Kumar categorically told Rakesh Tikait and other leaders politely that this was beyond their purview and the demands have to be logical & reasonable for the stalemate to end. 

After every stage of negotiation the officers communicated it to Prashant Kumar & Devesh Chaurvedi who were also present at the spot, monitoring the progress directly and communicating it to the higher ups & seeking their directions as well. 

Media persons saw the DM/ SP/ Commissioner & IG holding closed door parleys with  the farmer’s leaders for hours and then come back again to Prashant Kumar & Devesh Chaturvedi for guidance. 

They were seen giving them directions for renegotiation. 

These officers would all sit together sipping tea & discuss the future course of action. What also served handy was Prashant Kumar’s previous posting as ADG zone Meerut where he had cultivated good links with the farmer leaders like Rakesh Tikait and earned their goodwill. 

He was heard talking to a couple of close aides to Rakesh Tikait to convince him to be reasonable & accommodative. He was also heard giving directions to various officers across the state to maintain peace at my cost. 

After the second round of negotiation a favourable ground was created but the farmer leaders were apprehensive of the administration’s commitment to keep up their promise and due to this the breakthrough could not be reached. 

It was also told from sources that CM himself was watching every development on the ground through an hourly update. 

At one time it seemed imminent that the talks wouldn’t succeed as almost 20 thousand people had gathered in the ground where four dead bodies of the accident victims were kept. 

The large crowd which had gathered in the ground was shouting anti government slogans and seemed full of rage. The crowds kept pouring in and a catastrophic situation seemed evident as most of the protestors were carrying sticks, rods & brandishing swords in their hands. 

No amount of force would have been enough to control this crowd as it would have led to large scale casualties on both sides which the government couldn’t have afforded. 

Journalists also heard Prashant Kumar & Devesh Chaturvedi regularly briefing ACS Home Awanish Awasthi & DGP UP Mukul goel also who were continuously monitoring the situation on the ground. 

Their was palpable tension amongst all the officers every now & then there were tweets of some or the other dignitary expressing their intent to visit Lakhimpur. 

Yogi Aditya Nath was firm that under no conditions Lakhimpur would be allowed to become a site of Political tourism and as a consequence Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi were arrested in Lucknow and Sitapur respectively. CM Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel was prevented from landing at Lucknow airport. 

During this high voltage political drama the ground dynamics was becoming volatile every minute on which intelligence agencies were keeping a  keen eye. 

Suddenly people in the crowd saw  Prashant kumar and Devesh Chaturvedi moving towards the campus where dialogue with the farmers leaders with a huge posse of black cat commandos & para military. 

It seemed clear that arrest of Rakesh Tikait was imminent. 

Prashant kumar & Devesh chaturvedi entered into the meeting room & everyone expected that Tikait & his associates would soon be dragged into the Police vans. The doors were closed and their was complete suspense as no outsider was privy to what went inside. 

After almost 30 mins people saw Tikait coming out with these officers and announcing in a press conference that all the important demands of the family members have been conceded and there was no reason to carry on the protest any longer. 

Tikait then walked towards the ground where thousands of demonstrators were delivering anti Govt speeches & chanting slogans against the administration. 

Tikait announced to the general public that the protest is being ended and the family members have decided to cremate the bodies as government has stood up to its promise. 

This came as a bit of surprise as to how Rakesh Tikait who had not every conceded to the central Government could give in so easily. 

Sources observed that lodging of FIR against the ministers son & the minister came as a major clincher. 

Prashant kumar had assured the leaders through IG Laxmi singh that their FIR would be lodged verbatim. 

Sources said that Devesh Chaturvedi & Prashant Kumar’s categorical assurance to Tikait that they are committed to fulfil all their legitimate demands diffused the situation. Their personal chemistry with the leaders & credibility also played a big role in ending the stalemate.

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