Lakhimpur Kheri: Demand to sack Ajay Mishra rocks Parliament

Rahul referred to the SIT report that said violence was the result of a conspiracy

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2pm on Wednesday as opposition MPs raised demands for the removal of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra 'Teni' over the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri in October.

Ajay Mishra Teni is the father of Ashish Mishra, one of the accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Eight people were killed in the violence that erupted after some farmers were run over by vehicles, one of which was carrying Ashish. Ajay Mishra is accused of attempting to protect his son. Ajay Mishra had met his son in jail on Tuesday.

The Lakhimpur Kheri violence was back in the headlines on Tuesday after the report of the special investigation team probing the incident alleged it was the result of a conspiracy and sought inclusion of murder charges against Ashish and the 12 other accused persons.

On Wednesday morning, a number of Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, submitted adjournment motions over the issue. In his notice, Rahul was quoted by NDTV as saying “The UP police SIT report has highlighted that the massacre of farmers at Lakhimpur was a pre-planned conspiracy and not a negligent act. The government should immediately sack the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Kumar Mishra, and ensure justice is delivered to the families of the victims.” Rahul told ANI, “They [Narendra Modi government] is not allowing us to speak so House is being disrupted. We said that a judgment has come and a minister is involved, a discussion be allowed. But they don't want to discuss.”