'Ready To Depose Before Any Inquiry Panel': MoS Home Ajay Kumar Mishra On Lakhimpur Kheri Incident

Mishra reiterated that neither he nor his son was present at the spot when the Lakhimpur Kheri violence took place earlier on Sunday.

Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra

New Delhi: Under sharp criticism from all quarters over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra on Wednesday said he is “ready to depose before any inquiry panel” and added “the case is being investigated from all possible angles engaging multiple investigating agencies”.

Mishra reiterated that neither he nor his son was present at the spot when the Lakhimpur Kheri violence took place earlier on Sunday.

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“Neither me nor my son were present at the spot when the violence broke out in Lakhimpur Kheri. Our car was diverted to a different route.... I am ready to depose before any inquiry panel,” he told ANI in an exclusive conversation.

Asserting the “investigating agencies will investigate every conspiracy to get to the bottom of the incident”, Mishra said that action would be taken against whoever is guilty.

Assuring a fair investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which eight people were killed, Mishra said the investigating agencies are working “without any influence”.

“All angles will be probed,” he added.

Responding to a poser on his name being mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR), the Minister of State for Home Affairs said: “I know the process of law and I assure to follow the due process as like common citizen.”

Mishra downplayed questions on the opposition parties seeking his resignation over the incident.

“Respect of the country is increasing (across the world), both the Prime Minister as well as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are gaining popularity. When the opposition parties are not able to face us directly, then they are doing negative politics,” he said.

When asked whether he has sought security for his son, Mishra said “I have not asked for any security for my son as there is no problem anyway in my district.”

Asserting the allegations are being levelled by those people doing “negative politics”, he added: “Around 90 percent people of my district are with me.”

Mishra, who joined work at his office at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in North Block here, further said these are those people, who have issues with the country’s growth and the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to sources, Mishra after joining work met Union Home Minister Amit Shah where he is understood to have briefed him about the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, ANI reported.

Earlier on Monday, the Uttar Pradesh Police filed an FIR against Ashish Mishra, the son of the Minister of State for Home Affairs.

It is alleged that Ashish ran his car over the protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.

The FIR also mentions the name of the Minister of State for Home Affairs.