New Delhi:
Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni today posted a video on Facebook of a conference at the Interior Ministry, unfazed by calls in parliament for being fired over allegations that his son Ashish Mishra competed for farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Mishra, a junior Interior Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, has so far shied away from any action, despite accusations that he and his son were both present at Lakhimpur Kheri when the eight men , including four farmers, were killed. He is also accused of shielding his son, who has been in prison since his arrest in October.
The BJP has denied removing him and his Facebook post suggests business as usual for him, away from the chaos in parliament. He went to the office every day.
“Our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Amit Shah) are trying to break with the old practice of when evidence of a crime is collected by oral evidence. We are trying to get it legal. That’s why Mr. Mishra told officials in the video that at least 70-80% of evidence must be produced during the prosecution in order for the cases to remain private.
The Minister’s speech to his group was in stark contrast with his attack on a journalist yesterday. Mr Mishra was caught as the camera hit the journalist, who asked him about an investigative panel report proposing new charges against him.
“Don’t ask these stupid questions. Dimag kharaab hai kya be (Are you crazy?) … Thief, you frame an innocent man,” shouted the minister.
He also lunged at a reporter and snatched his mic. “Mic band karo be (mic off),” he scolds.
The BJP, which faces an election early next year in Uttar Pradesh, has stood with him through an escalating offensive of opposition.
“The minister must resign. He is a criminal,” National Assembly leader Rahul Gandhi said in Lok Sabha today, accusing Prime Minister Modi of protecting him.
Sources told NDTV today that the party’s senior leadership does not support action against Mr Mishra and that he will not be removed from the Council of Ministers at this time.
“A father cannot be punished for his son’s actions,” BJP sources said.
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