Mumbai: Maha Vikas Aghadi’s government, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, called for a statewide bandh on October 11 against the violent incident in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, during a demonstration of farmers.
“Maha Vikas Aghadi (NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance) calls for a statewide bandh on October 11 against the incident of violence in Lakhimpur Kheri,” said the Minister of Maharashtra and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party ( NCP) Jayant Patil, ANI reported.
It comes as opposition parties blasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Central and Uttar Pradesh for the incident in which eight people were killed.
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.
Mishra however said he was “ready to testify before any investigative committee” and added that “the matter is being investigated from every possible angle involving multiple 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.”
“All angles will be probed,” he added.
Responding to an installer on the mention of his name in the First Information Report (FIR), the Minister of State for Home Affairs said: “I know the legal process and I make sure to follow due process as an ordinary citizen. “
Mishra played down questions about opposition parties asking for his resignation following the incident.
“Respect for the country is increasing (across the world), the Prime Minister, as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are gaining popularity. When the opposition parties are not in a position to face us directly, then they are engaging in negative politics, ”he said.
Earlier Monday, Uttar Pradesh police filed an FIR against Ashish Mishra, the son of the Minister of State for the Interior.
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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