Oppn closes ranks, ‘Teni’ faces Kheri heat

Rahul Gandhi demands SIT report on Kheri be discussed in LS

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed vociferous protests from a united opposition which sought the dismissal of Union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which four farmers were run over by a vehicle which was part of a BJP minister’s son’s convoy on October 3. A Special Investigation Team report had on Tuesday stated that the violence was part of a “preplanned conspiracy” and not a “freak accident”.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has given an adjournment notice in the LS for discussing the SIT report in a case of violence in Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh.

In his notice, Gandhi has sought for adjourning the business of the House and demanded that the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) report on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident be taken up for discussion. “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 massacre of farmers at Lakhimpur was a pre-planned conspiracy and not a negligent act. The SIT has recommended for the modification of the charges against all the accused,” he said in his notice submitted to the Lok Sabha secretary general.

“The government should immediately sack the MoS, Home Affairs, Ajay Kumar Mishra, and ensure that justice is delivered to the families of the victims,” he said in his notice. The Congress is likely to create an uproar in the Lok Sabha over the issue on Wednesday.

Gandhi had alleged on Tuesday that the Opposition was not being allowed to raise matters of public importance in Parliament, which was merely a building and a museum now.

The SIT has submitted before a court that the killings was a “pre-planned conspiracy” and also sought to substitute lesser charges in the case with graver ones. —(PTI)