New Delhi: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers’ unions, warned the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government that the ‘deadline’ to sack and arrest Union minister Ajay Misra is today, i.e., Monday.
“SKM warns Government of India and Government of Uttar Pradesh that time is running out on the deadline of October 11 given by SKM. Ajay Misra Teni’s arrest and dismissal are awaited in addition to arrests of all culprits in Lakhimpur Kheri farmers’ massacre. Justice is clearly getting compromised because of Ajay Misra Teni being a minister in the Union government,” SKM said.
Further, the farmers’ statement said, “Haryana and Chandigarh Police are moving fast to lodge cases against farmers. However, where farmers are seeking justice, police departments are moving slowly. These double standards not acceptable.”
On October 9, the SKM had issued an ultimatum to the government to act against Ajay Misra by October 11. If this is not done, the farmers’ organisations said they will start a five-phase nationwide programme against the Lakhimpur violence. This will include ‘rail roko’ and a mahapanchayat in Lucknow.
According to reports, Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody after being arrested yesterday. Ashish Mishra was not cooperating with police during the interrogation.
For more than 11 hours police was questioning him in connection with the violence on October 3 in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed.
“After a long interrogation, we found that he (Ashish Mishra) is not cooperating, and does not want to tell many things in the investigation. That’s why we are arresting him. He will be produced before the court now,” DIG Upendra Agrawal, chairman of the supervision committee in the Lakhimpur Kheri case said in Saharanpur.
Ashish will be taken to district hospital where his medical examination will be conducted and will be produced in court. It is learnt from the sources that Ashish’s lawyer produced video evidence and affidavit of witnesses who place Ashish at a wrestling event when a fleet of three cars went on rampage and mowed down farmers in Tikunia on 3 October.
The big development has come a day after the Supreme Court of India expressed its dissatisfaction with the police action taken against the accused in the incident which has drawn massive outrage.
Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu was protesting for justice to be given to farmers by arresting Ashish Mishra. As Ashish Mishra on Saturday reached Lakhimpur Crime Branch, Sidhu stopped protesting.
Ashish Mishra arrived at Lakhimpur Crime Branch for his summon on Saturday at 11 AM. On Friday when he didn’t showed up for his summon so police issued second notice against him to appear before 11 AM in connection with October 3 incidence.
There is a tight security at the location and the internet is freezed. Facing reporters at Lucknow airport, the junior home minister said his son Ashish Mishra could not appear before police as he was not well but will record his statement on Saturday.
His remarks came after a police team headed by Deputy Inspector General (Headquarters) Upendra Agarwal waited hours at the Lakhimpur police lines for Ashish Mishra, who had been asked to appear there at 10 am. Around 2pm media learnt that Ashish Mishra has not turned up and second notice has been issued with Saturday’s deadline.
Mishra was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers protesting over UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit on Sunday. Two BJP workers and their driver were then allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A local journalist also died in the incident, which has put the BJP government on the back foot in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday criticised the Centre for its “apathy” towards the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, which was triggered on Sunday after eight people were killed when an SUV ran over the people.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
