Opposition parties marched in Delhi today to protest the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs and the dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, whose son has been detained in the Lakhimpur Kheri farmers’ killing case. After a meeting this morning, the opposition parties agreed to march as part of their plan to advance topics that have stymied progress in the Winter session of parliament.
The march began at 1 p.m. from the Gandhi statue in Parliament House to Vijay Chowk.
“We are all here together. We want to express our solidarity and demand that those guilty for farmer violence be held accountable “Rahul Gandhi of the Congress Party stated this during his speech at Vijay Chowk.
“Everyone knows whose son he was, and the defence is understood, but this man will be brought to justice,” he continued, referring to Ashish Mishra, the son of junior home minister Ajay Mishra.
The calls for Mr Mishra’s dismissal have become stronger after the Special Investigation Team in charge of the case concluded that the farmers’ deaths were the result of a “planned conspiracy” and that it was a case of murder.
The BJP has said unequivocally that no minister would be asked to resign.
According to sources, the party’s top leadership is not in favour of taking action against Mr Mishra for the time being. Senior BJP leaders and government ministers have stated publicly that the SIT has yet to deliver its final report and that the case is still being heard in court.
On October 3, four farmers were killed by an SUV driven by the son of a Union minister in Lakhimpur Kheri. In the ensuing violence, two BJP members and a driver were allegedly beaten to death by enraged protesters, while a local journalist was also murdered.
The opposition parties have also expressed strong objection to the suspension of MPs for their disruptive behaviour during the monsoon session of parliament, which they have described as “undemocratic” and in violation of House norms. Rajya Sabha’s proceedings on the issue have been frequently disrupted.
Mallikarjun Kharge and Deepinder Singh Hooda of the Congress filed notices in the Upper House this morning, requesting a debate on the Lakhimpur Keri matter. Manickam Tagore, a Congress MP, issued a similar notice in the Lok Sabha.
“In order to guarantee a free and fair trial of the murder case of innocent farmers, the Mos, who is the accused’s father, must be immediately removed from his position,” Mr Kharge said in his Rule 267 adjournment notice.