Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Minister Ajay Mishra must resign, insists Opposition; BJP says matter sub judice

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15

The Opposition today stepped up attack against the government over the issue of Lakhimpur Kheri violence with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanding the resignation of Union Minister of State (Home) Ajay Mishra, as his son is an accused in the case.

Editorial: Minister must go: Position untenable after SIT report in Lakhimpur Kheri case

The SIT probing the violence recently concluded that it was a “pre-planned conspiracy”.

The BJP, however, rejected the demand for resignation, saying that it was “unfounded” and also ruled out a discussion on the issue as the matter was sub judice.

Also read: WATCH: ‘Turn your phone off’: Ajay Mishra Teni ‘abuses’ journalists; video viral

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the government would have to sack the minister in order to provide justice to the victims of the Lakhimpur violence. “He should resign,” he told the media when asked whether Mishra should put in his papers. Rahul also said Opposition leaders were trying to ensure a discussion in Parliament on the October 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh that left eight persons, including four farmers, dead. “We are trying. They (government) are not allowing us to speak, that is why the House is being disrupted,” Rahul said.

The Congress leader had earlier given an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, demanding an immediate discussion on the Lakhimpur violence.

“I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance. The UP Police SIT report has highlighted that the massacre of farmers at Lakhimpur was a pre-planned conspiracy,” he said in his notice submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

He added that the government should “immediately sack the MoS and ensure that justice is delivered to the families of the victims”.

The Congress members in both Houses raised an uproar, demanding a discussion on the Lakhimpur incident and forced adjournments of the proceedings. Meanwhile, Union Minister and BJP leader Piyush Goyal, talking to reporters, said: “The probe is on under SC’s directions. Such comments (of Opposition) are unfounded.”

Asked about the demand for a discussion, he said, “Parliamentary rules dictate that a sub-judice matter is not discussed (in Parliament).”

The Leader of the House in the RS also hit out at the Opposition for their continuous disruption of proceedings to seek revocation of suspension of 12 MPs.

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Lakhimpur: Union Minister Ajay Mishra lost his cool here on Wednesday, calling scribes“thieves” and lunging at one of them when questioned on Kheri violence. Reporters accused the minister of snatching a reporter’s cellphone.

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Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party and the Congress staged protests outside the UP Assembly on Wednesday, demanding the removal of Union Minister of State (Home) Ajay Mishra.