Modi govt fumbles as Oppn steps up attack over Teni resignation, Rahul says, criminal minister must be sacked

A day after Union Home Minister Ajay Mishra Teni whose son allegedly mowed down protesting farmers was caught on camera abusing and threatening a journalist for asking questions on SIT investigation, Opposition parties – in and outside Parliament– have stepped up attack on Modi government.

Teni hurling abuse at ABP journalist can be seen in the video given below.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that the “criminal Minister must be sacked” from the Cabinet.

“We should be allowed to speak about the murder that was committed in Lakhimpur Kheri, where there was an involvement of the Minister and about which it has been said that it was a conspiracy. The Minister who killed farmers should resign and be punished,” said Rahul Gamdhi.

Going a step further, Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi attacked prime minister Narendra Modi for protecting Teni. She termed inaction against Teni as “moral bankruptcy”.

“The government's refusal to sack Ajay Mishra Teni is the starkest indication of its moral bankruptcy. Narendra Modi Ji, carefully curated spectacles of piety and wearing religious attire will not change the fact that you are protecting a criminal…Ajay Mishra Teni should be sacked and charged in accordance with the law,” said Priyanka Gandhi.

The Youth wing of the Congress party also took to streets demanding Teni’s resignation.

Opposition parties served notices in both Houses demanding debates on the “planned conspiracy” remark. The protests, which included placards reading “justice for Lakhimpur victims” and “sack MoS Home” caused an adjournment, first till 2 pm and then for the day.

Rajya Sabha, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu stopped Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge from speaking, triggering further protests from the Congress and other parties.

A part from Congress, several opposition MPs voiced similar demands.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has demanded his dismissal after the SIT report said that the Lakhimpur Kheri incident was “well planned.”

“I think he should resign...PM should take his resignation. Only then will the House be quiet. People will also feel the PM is taking democracy forward,” said National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah while talking to media.

So far, the BJP has defended Teni’s continuation in the Modi cabinet, saying that there was no proof to show his involvement.

Political observers believe it is now difficult for the BJP to defend Teni as Rahul Gandhi is leading the charge.

Eight persons including a journalist died in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3, after Teni’s son Ashish mowed down protesters. While five lost their lives after Ashish’s SUV rammed a group of protesters opposing three farm reform laws (now repealed), three others died in the retaliatory attack.

Reconstituted by the Supreme Court, Special Investigation Team (SIT) has said in its report submitted to the chief magistrate's court that the Lakhimpur Kheri incident was a "planned conspiracy".

Those who know Teni say he is a lawyer by profession but more interested in wrestling. According to a former MLA from Lakhimpur Kheri, Teni is allegedly involved in dubious businesses also. AAP leader Sanjay Saingh had shared an old clip of Teni on Twitter in which Teni can be seen threatening protesting farmers.

“Mishra was one of the main accused in the murder of a Congressman but he was acquitted by the local court apparently due to lack of evidence in 2004,” claimed the MLA.

Mishra was first elected from the Nighasan assembly seat in 2012. Then he won Lok Sabha polls in 2014, defeating BSP candidate Anand Giri. In 2019, he defeated the SP candidate by more than one lakh votes.