New Delhi: The proceedings of Lok Sabha was disrupted on Thursday as Opposition demanded suspension of MoS Home Ajay Mishra. The first adjournment in Lok Sabha came within minutes of meeting on Thursday morning as the Opposition demanded sacking of the MoS Home and a discussion on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
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 Minister of State over his son Ashish Mishra’s involvement in the death of eight people including four farmers.
“The murder that has happened in Lakhimpur Kheri, in which a Minister is involved… where it is said it is a conspiracy… We should be allowed to speak on it. 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 issue. “He (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 Minister 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 pm.
When the House met again, the scene was no different. As Opposition members continued to protest demanding the Minister to be sacked, the House was adjourned for the day.
Opposition has been demanding to sack the Minister since the incident took place on October 3, in which four farmers and a journalist were killed after being run over by cars from the Minister’s convoy. Three people from the Minister’s convoy were also killed. An SIT report has said it was a deliberate act and not of negligence. Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish is one of the accused who have been arrested.
