The video shows Ajay Mishra using a slur against journalists and calling them “chor (thief)”.
Union minister Ajay Mishra, in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri under mounting pressure to release his son jailed for driving away farmers, is seen in a video attacking a journalist and abusing the media.
“Don’t ask these stupid questions. brain is bad (Are you crazy?),” the minister is seen shouting when asked by a journalist about the inquiry report recommending fresh charges against his son Ashish Mishra.
Mr. Mishra, Union Minister of State for Home in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, is also seen pouncing on a reporter and snatching his mike. “Mike” band do bey (stop the mic),” he says.
The video shows him using abusive language and calling journalists.”Thief (Thief)”.
The incident took place when the minister was inaugurating an oxygen plant at Lakhimpur Kheri, where he had gone to meet his son in jail yesterday.
The opposition’s demand for Mr Mishra’s sacking from the Union Cabinet has intensified after the Special Investigation Team’s report said the October 3 killing of farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri was a “planned conspiracy”. The report said the farmers were allegedly crushed to death by an SUV driven by Ashish Mishra with “intent to kill” and that it was “not death by negligence”.
It also recommended that the charges of rash driving against Ashish Mishra and others be modified and charges of attempt to murder and voluntarily causing hurt be added. Ashish Mishra and others are already facing charges of murder and conspiracy.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “We want the minister to resign but the PM is not ready. The way the government was forced to withdraw the agriculture laws, it will be forced to sack the minister.” report on parliament
So far, the BJP has vehemently refused to succumb to pressure and remove Mr Mishra, and has insisted that he cannot be held responsible for what his son did.
However, with Uttar Pradesh and four other states voting early next year, the BJP is finding it difficult to defend its minister, who is accused of protecting his son.
,