'Dogs Bark...': Union Minister Ajay Mishra Takes Veiled Dig At Protesting Farmers
Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son is accused of ramming his car into farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri last year.
In an oblique reference to protesting farmers, Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son is accused of ramming his car into farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri last year, spoke of "barking dogs chasing (his) car" in a video that has gone viral. In the video, Mishra also called farmer leader Rakesh Tikait a "do kaudi ka aadmi" or a second rate person, PTI reported,
The controversial speech by Mishra was made during a gathering of his supporters in his constituency and was live-streamed on social media.
"Suppose I am going to Lucknow in a car which is at a good speed, dogs bark on the road or chase the car. It's their nature, I will not say anything about that as we do not have this nature. When things come to the fore, I will give answer to everyone. I am very confident because of your support," Mishra, who is the Minister of State for Home, said.
On October 3 last year, eight people, including four farmers and a journalist, were killed and several others were injured when an SUV allegedly belonging to Mishra mowed them down. In this case, Mishra's son Ashish Mishra has been arrested as the main accused.
"People keep raising questions. There are also 'bevakoof patrakaar' (stupid journalists) who have no relationship with journalism and want to create confusion by such 'ulti-seedhi baat' (unfounded things)," Mishra said at the event.
Training his guns on Rakesh Tikait, Mishra said, "I know Rakesh Tikait very well, he is a 'do kaudi ka aadmi' (second rate person). He fought election twice and lost the deposit. If this kind of a man opposes anyone, it is of no value and so I do not answer to such people as it is of no relevance."
Last week, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), led by Tikait, had staged a 75-hour long dharna in Lakhimpur to press their pending demands, including sacking of Mishra and legal guarantee for minimum support price of crops.
"He (Tikait) is doing politics in this manner and running his livelihood. They will be given a reply at the right time," Mishra can be heard telling BJP workers in the video.
Reacting to Mishra's comments, Tikait said it was natural for him to be angry when his son was in jail for the past one year, PTI reported,
Tikait alleged that "goonda raj" had been unleashed by Mishra in Lakhimpur and said they would soon launch a "mukti abhiyan" to free the place from the minister's reign of terror.
"This time we stayed for three days, next time we will stay there (Lakhimpur) for 13 days to end the 'goonda raj' of the minister," the BKU leader said.
The farmer leader said such threatening comments by Mishra could affect the probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
"The court and the police should do its work. He (Mishra) shall be externed from the district or the state so that the probe is not affected in the incident," he further said.
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