New Delhi: A seven-member delegation of Congress led by Rahul Gandhi met President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday and presented a memorandum of facts on the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that claimed the lives of eight people. They demanded an independent enquiry by two sitting judges of the Supreme Court in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and also the immediate dismissal of Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra.
"We told the President that the accused's father who is Minister of State Home should be removed from the post as a fair probe is not possible in his presence. Likewise, we also demanded inquiry be done by two sitting judges of Supreme Court," Rahul Gandhi told reporters after the meeting.
"President has given us the assurance that he will discuss the matter with the government today itself," said party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The delegation also included Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leaders AK Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, party general secretary KC Venugopal.
Read: Priyanka Gandhi to take part in 'antim ardaas' of deceased farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri today
The Congress party, on October 10, had written a letter to the Rashtrapati Bhavan seeking an appointment with the President. In the letter, KC Venugopal had stated, "the shocking incident of broad day massacre of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. Even more tragic are the open warnings given by the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni and the consequent trampling of farmers under a vehicle owned by the Minister and his family."
"Farmers, who were eyewitnesses, have openly stated that they were run over by vehicle being driven by the son of the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs. Despite all-around protests and intervention of the Supreme Court, no decisive action has been taken either against the guilty or against the Minister," the letter further said.
