NEW DELHI: Refusing to let go of the pressure on the ruling party in Centre over Lakhimpur Kheri incident, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took on the government saying the Centre is deliberately trying to snuff out the opposition voices demanding that accused Ajay Mishr Teni be removed from his post for his alleged involvement in the incident.
The Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Wednesday amid Opposition ruckus demanding sacking of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishr ‘Teni’ after the SIT report called the Lakhimpur Kheri incident a “pre-planned” conspiracy. Mishr’s son Ashish Mishr has already been arrested in connection with the case along with 12 others for mowing down innocent farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. Several people were killed in the violence that ensued.
Targeting the BJP, the Congress leader said, “We said (in the house) that the report that says the Minister is involved in the incident is already out. We said that at least a discussion should be allowed. But they don’t want any discussion.”
Gandhi had moved a notice in Lok Sabha seeking adjournment of business to discuss a “definite matter of urgent importance” — the SIT report on Lakhimpur Kheri. He said the government should “immediately sack” Mishr and “ensure justice is delivered to the families of the victims”.
The BJP is facing embarrassment after the UP Police SIT approached a court on Monday seeking to invoke four more criminal charges, including the attempt to murder and under the Arms Act, against the 13 accused arrested.
Earlier in the day, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi sarcastically took on Rahul Gandhi and said, “The discussion will be held in both In Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. In fact, the matter has come for discussion in the Lok Sabha. Let them give the notice as per the rules. Also, we must keep in mind that the matter is subjudice, as a Supreme Court monitored probe is being carried out.”
In another jibe, he added: “Looks like Rahul Gandhi has improved (in parliamentary skills) as he never used to give notices earlier. It seems he did not think much of the Parliament then.”
The SIT investigating officer Vidhyaram Diwakar filed an application in the CJM’s court on December 13 for addition of new sections in the warrant, replacing sections 279, 338 and 304A of the IPC. In his application, the investigating officer pointed out that the incident was “well-planned and a deliberate act”, and not one of negligence or callousness.
He also requested for the addition of Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code after replacing sections 279 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), 338 (Whoever causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently) and 304A (Causing death by negligence) of the IPC.