‘No to dictatorship’: Rahul Gandhi leads Opposition march, demands Teni’s resignation

Pressing for the resignation of Union Minister Teni, holding placards reading, “No to dictatorship” and “Do justice for Lakhimpur Kheri, sack Teni”, several opposition MPs held a march against the Modi government on Tuesday afternoon.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk.

Speaking to the media after the march, Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition wants a discussion on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in the Parliament, but the government is running away.

He reiterated the demand to sack Ajay Mishra.

“A minister’s son killed farmers, report has called it a conspiracy, not an isolated incident. PM doesn’t do anything about it. You (PM) apologize (to farmers), but you are not removing the minister (MoS Home),” added Rahul.

Saying that Teni will have to go to jail for the killing of farmers, Rahul Gandhi said, “We will not spare the minister’s son.”

Congress MP KC Venugopal gave suspension of business notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss the SIT Report in Lakhimpur Kheri matter and demand resignation of MoS Home Ajay Misra Teni.

Deepender Hooda sought a discussion on Lakhimpur Kheri violence in the Upper House. Hooda demanded adequate compensation for the farmers and the removal of Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra.

On Monday, Rahul Gandhi blamed the government for the stalemate in Parliament, saying the responsibility of running the House is on the government.

“We are not being allowed to raise issues in the House. We want the government to remove Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni and discuss the Lakhimpur Kheri case in the House, but the government did not allow us to do so,” Rahul said on Monday.

The Opposition renewed its demand for Teni’s dismissal after a special investigation team (SIT) appointed by the SC concluded that the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed was a “pre-planned conspiracy”.

It is worth recalling here that two separate FIRs were filed in the Lakhimpur Kheri killing. The SIT had arrested 13 people including Ashish Mishra Teni in the first FIR in connection with the death of the four farmers and a local journalist.

In relation to the second FIR, the SIT has arrested four people so far. The second FIR was filed in connection with the death of two BJP workers and a driver during the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri.