The Lower House was adjourned multiple times as opposition MPs stormed into the well seeking a discussion.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacts with media at Parliament House in New Delhi, December 15, 2021. Photo: PTI/Kamal Singh
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday, December 15, witnessed vociferous protests from a united opposition which sought the dismissal of Union minister of state for home 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 “pre-planned conspiracy” and not a “freak accident”.
Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi had earlier given an adjournment motion notice to seek a discussion on the SIT report. When the House assembled, party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and T.R. Baalu of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) demanded that the speaker allow a discussion on the matter.
However, speaker Om Birla refused the demand saying, “The House shouldn’t set wrong practices. The Question Hour should run. We can discuss it later.”
Not satisfied with the speaker’s argument, the opposition members insisted on a discussion. They also moved into the well of the House raising slogans that demanded that “murderers of farmers should be suspended” and urging Modi to sack Mishra. Despite the slogan shouting by the opposition leaders, the House took up the questions during the Question Hour.
Later, Gandhi charged that the opposition was not being allowed to speak in the house on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. “They are not allowing us to speak in the house. We are saying that a report has come out which says that the minister [Ajay Misra] was involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. The matter must be discussed. But they [government] are not allowing discussion,” he said, adding that “the minister must resign”.
In all, eight people were killed in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. Apart from the four farmers, a journalist, two BJP workers and Mishra’s driver were also killed. The latter three were killed in retaliatory attacks by the farmers, the UP police has said. The violence occurred ahead of a visit to the district by Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
The SIT had filed an application before the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) to include new sections against the 13 accused – including Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra – to make their offence punishable under attempt to murder charges. The application filed by SIT investigating officer Vidhyaram Diwakar had urged the court to add new sections in the warrant. He had also insisted that the incident was a well planned and a deliberate act and not one that happened due to negligence or callousness.
Various farmers’ unions have also called for Mishra to be sacked from the Union cabinet.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Mishra on Wednesday manhandled a journalist who was trying to ask him about the SIT’s decision to charge his son and other Lakhimpur Kheri accused with ‘attempt to murder’.
A video, tweeted by journalists, shows Mishra first appearing incensed with questions, asking a reporter to switch off the video recording on his phone and then lunging at another journalist. The incident took place while Mishra was inaugurating an oxygen plant. The minister asked the journalist to switch off his mic and camera, accusing him of asking “stupid questions”.
SOURCE ; THE WIRE
Social media is bold.
Social media is young.
Social media raises questions.
Social media is not satisfied with an answer.
Social media looks at the big picture.
Social media is interested in every detail.
social media is curious.
Social media is free.
Social media is irreplaceable.
But never irrelevant.
Social media is you.
(With input from news agency language)
If you like this story, share it with a friend!
We are a non-profit organization. Help us financially to keep our journalism free from government and corporate pressure
0 Comments