New Delhi: The Supreme Court took on Wednesday suo motu knowledge of the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, in which eight people were killed during a protest by farmers.
A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli will hear the case on Thursday.
It comes as a major political row has erupted over the Lakhimpur incident with opposition parties criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Central and Uttar Pradesh.
Opposition parties, including Congress, CPI (M), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have called for the removal of Minister of State for the Interior Ajay Kumar Mishra from the Union Cabinet because of his involvement in the attack on the farmers of Lakhimpur Kheri.
The Home Secretary, however, said he was “ready to testify before any investigative committee” and added that “the matter is under investigation from all angles possible involving several investigative agencies “.
He reiterated that neither he nor his son was present at the scene when the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri took place earlier on Sunday.
“Neither I nor my son was present at the scene when violence broke out in Lakhimpur Kheri. Our car was diverted to a different route… I’m ready to testify before any investigative committee, ”he told ANI in an exclusive conversation.
Claiming that “investigative agencies will investigate every plot to shed light on the incident,” Mishra said action will be taken against the culprit.
Ensuring a fair investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Mishra said the investigative agencies were working “without any influence.”
Earlier Monday, Uttar Pradesh police filed an FIR against Ashish Mishra.
It is alleged that Ashish crashed his car on protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.
The FIR also mentions the name of the Minister of State responsible for the Interior.
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