'Minister is a criminal': Rahul Gandhi demands Ajay Mishra's resignation amid ruckus in LS

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday targetted Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra over his son, Ashish Mishra, being accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri farmers killing case. Calling him "a criminal", Rahul demanded that he either be sacked or resign.

"The minister must resign. He is a criminal," Rahul said in the Lok Sabha amid protests from opposition parties who are calling for debates after the SIT probing the case said it was a 'pre-planned conspiracy'.

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm amid the protests. As Rahul continued demanding the ouster of Mishra, BJP members also stood up and raised slogans.

Pralhad Joshi, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, said the government would like to take 'constructive suggestions' from the Opposition. “Supreme Court-monitored investigation is going on in the Lakhimpur Kheri case. Parliament is a place for discussions. We want to take constructive suggestions from the Opposition. We call them for discussions but they refuse,” he told ANI.

Rahul's demand was reiterated by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who tweeted that the government's refusal to sack Mishra was "the starkest indication of its moral bankruptcy". In a series of tweets, Priyanka said, "The government’s refusal to sack Ajay Mishra Teni is the starkest indication of its moral bankruptcy. @narendramodi ji, carefully curated spectacles of piety and wearing religious attire will not change the fact that you are protecting a criminal."

Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in October. The SIT has arrested 13 people including Ashish Mishra in the first FIR in connection with the death of the four farmers and the journalist. In the second FIR relating to the death of two BJP workers and a driver during the violence, the SIT had arrested four people.

-with PTI inputs