Rahul Gandhi Demands Sacking Of MoS Home Ajay Mishra
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra console the family of a victim of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence (Congress' Twitter handle)
The Lok Sabha was adjourned within minutes of meeting on Thursday as the opposition demanded the sacking of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra and a discussion on the killings at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh on October 3.
During Question Hour, Speaker Om Birla called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to ask the question listed against his name. Rahul Gandhi instead raised the Lakhimpur Kheri issue and demanded the sacking of the MoS Home over his son Ashish Mishra’s involvement in the death of eight people, including four farmers.
“The murder that happened in Lakhimpur Kheri, the minister who is involved… where it is said it is a conspiracy, you should let us speak on that. The minister involved should resign,” Rahul Gandhi said.
The Speaker insisted that he ask the question that is listed. Rahul Gandhi, however, continued to raise the Lakhimpur Kheri issue. “He (the minister) should be punished,” he said.
The Parliamentary disruption happened a day after the Uttar Pradesh Police described the October 3 incident as a “pre-planned conspiracy”.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said Congress members were in the Well while Rahul Gandhi wanted to ask a question and said the members should go back to their seats.
The opposition members, however, continued the protests, with several members standing near the Speaker’s podium with placards demanding the sacking of Mishra.
Birla said showing placards and trooping into the Well were against rules. He said he would allow the opposition to raise any issue they want after the Question Hour.
“What message do you want to give? Bringing placards and raising slogans is not a good tradition for Parliament. You have been elected to raise issues, and you are bringing placards… this is wrong,” the Speaker said. He then adjourned the House till 2 p.m.
