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A Congress delegation, led by former party chief Rahul Gandhi, urged President Ram Nath Kovind to immediately dismiss Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni and order an independent judicial investigation by a Commission comprising of two sitting judges of the Supreme Court or the High Court.
The delegation gave a detailed account of the incident that took place in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3 when Ajay Mishra's son Ashish allegedly ran his vehicle over the farmers, killing four farmers and a journalist.
"Like crores of other Indians, we are certain that you are also deeply affected by the unforgivable & merciless murder of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. The incident has scarred the soul of India," the Congress said in its memorandum submitted to the President.
"This deliberate act of murder, in broad daylight followed by 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."
It claimed that as has become the norm, the Uttar Pradesh Government and Police flatly refused to lodge an FIR and then refused to arrest the accused.
The opposition party further alleged that Mishra also stands accused of murder. While the District Court had acquitted him, a criminal appeal against his acquittal is pending in Allahabad High Court since 2004.
"What is even more shocking and unbelievable is that the High Court had reserved judgment in the Criminal Appeal on March 12, 2018 but hasn’t delivered the verdict till date. Three years and 7 months have passed since. Justice has been delayed to the point where it has effectively been denied."
Despite this context of criminality and abuse of power, Mishra continues in office, it said.
Given that BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, continue to make conciliatory statements towards him it suggests that this situation is unlikely to change without intervention.
'Mishra’s role is also yet to be investigated and the same is unlikely while he continues in office."
Apart from Rahul Gandhi, the delegation included senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, AK Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.