The Uttar Pradesh government, on Wednesday, granted permission to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and three other people to visit violence-hit Lakhimpur Kheri. The opposition leaders were earlier denied permission to visit the area in the wake of Section 144 after violence erupted in Lakhimpur Kheri, where eight people died, during a demonstration by farmers against UP Deputy Chief Minister minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit.

The Congress leaders have been trying to meet the bereaved.  While Rahul, who was supposed to lead a five-member delegation, was denied permission in the wake of Section 144 , his sister, Congress general secretary and UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was booked late on Monday. 

“Permission has been given to five leaders of Congress, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to visit Lakhimpur,” Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Navneet Sehgal told PTI.

Priyanka Gandhi 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 in Lakhimpur Kheri when she was stopped.

Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra’s son Ashish Misra has been accused of running over a group of protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, resulting in four deaths. Clashes following the deaths of the farmers led to four more deaths.

Also read: Robert Vadra says he was stopped on way to meet Priyanka Gandhi

Meanwhile, the UP government said that a twelve-hour suspension of the internet will be imposed in Sitapur today. 

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi on 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.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi calls Priyanka ‘true Congressi’ says Satyagraha won’t stop

Addressing a press conference, Gandhi said he along with two Congress Chief Ministers — Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) and Charanjit Singh Channi (Punjab) — will try to visit Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the families hit by the violence.

Gandhi charged that farmers are being mowed down and the name of a union minister and his son is coming up, but no action is being taken.

“There used to be democracy, there is dictatorship in India now. Politicians cannot go to Uttar Pradesh. We are being told since yesterday that we cannot go to Uttar Pradesh,” Gandhi said.