“I WAS devastated to learn about the trampling to death of peacefully protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, India.”

That’s what an “incensed” Tan Dhesi, Slough’s MP, said who paid his condolences to the families of the victims and has called for the campaigners to continue to protest peacefully.

On Sunday, October 3, at least eight people, including four farmers, were killed after being mowed down by a Jeep at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh – with claims the vehicle was driven by Ashish Mishra, Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son.

The minister and his son have denied that Ashish was at the scene.

READ MORE: Slough councillors call for tougher action on fly-tippers

According to media reports, the farmers gathered to protest over Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit, and violence erupted after the protesters were mowed down by the Jeep.

The Slough representative released two videos, one in English and the other in Punjabi, criticising some media outlets for “misconstruing” the killings as if the peaceful protesters instigated the attack.

He also said he was “angered” by what has happened, voicing his support to the Indian farmers and urged them to carry on their peaceful campaign.

READ MORE: Slough Council owed millions of pounds in section 106 funds

Mr Dhesi said: “I am someone from farming ancestry where my parents and my grandparents and others, they were involved in tilling the land, so when something like that happens it pains us incredibly.

“What I would request those farmers to do is to please remain peaceful, because you should realise that there is a lot of solidarity, a lot of support for you, not just in India, but from across the world.

“So please continue your struggle peacefully and I know that working collectively we can ensure that the authorities and the media treat you with the dignity, respect, and fairness that you rightly deserve.”