Lakhimpur Violence: Congress Delegation Meets President, Demands Removal of MoS Ajay Mishra

New Delhi, 14 Oct 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: A delegation of senior Congress leaders including former party president Rahul Gandhi met President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday demanding dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

The Congress leaders also demanded an impartial judicial probe into the incident by two sitting judges of the Supreme Court for which the minister’s removal is demanded.

“There cannot be an impartial inquiry and justice cannot be given till the time the MoS Home is sacked. This is the voice of not just the families of those killed but of all the farmers and this voice is being suppressed,” said Rahul Gandhi, reports PTI.

The delegation comprising senior Congress leaders A.K. Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also presented a memorandum of facts about the Lakhimpur Kheri incident to the President.

The Congress memorandum said the situation is unlikely to change without any intervention given that BJP leaders, including UP Chief Ministe Yogi Adityanath, continue to make conciliatory statements towards Minister Ajay Mishra.

“Ajay Mishra’s role is also yet to be investigated and the same is unlikely while he continues in office. Furthermore, which police official would dare to fairly investigate the son of Union MoS Home Affairs with the father occupying a position of such high influence and who enjoys continued endorsements from both the Central and the State governments.

”In these difficult circumstances, we call upon you as the custodian of our Constitution and the moral compass to this Government to immediately dismiss Union MoS Home Affairs and to direct an independent judicial investigation by a Commission comprising of two sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India or the high court,” the Congress memorandum said.

The party hoped that the President will treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and take appropriate action.

When asked, after the delegation met President in New Delhi, whether they have received any assurances from the president, Priyanka Gandhi claimed, “he (President) has assured us that he will talk to to the government in this regard today itself,” it is reported.

Rahul Gandhi said after the meeting that he conveyed to the President that the MoS Home should resign to ensure an impartial probe in the Lakhimpur violence as his son Ashish is an accused in the matter.

Ashish Mishra, who has been named in the FIR and is accused of mowing down farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, was arrested on Saturday by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

The Congress memorandum also mentions that like crores of other Indians, the President is also “deeply affected” by the “unforgivable and merciless murder” of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri.

“The shocking incident of broad day massacre of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh has shaken the conscience of the entire nation and the audacious reactions of the State and Central governments, has completely eroded the people’s faith in those tasked with bringing these perpetrators to justice, ” the party said.

Four farmers were among eight people killed in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3.

(With inputs from PTI)