BAREILLY: Union minister
Ajay Mishra Teni
, father of Ashish Mishra, a key accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, has been fielded again by BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Teni, the sitting MP from Kheri, will contest from the same seat and the party's decision has "deeply hurt" families of farmers and a journalist who were killed and injured during the violence in Tikunia in Oct 2021.
Jagdeep Singh, son of slain farmer Nachattar Singh, 60, told TOI on Sunday: "Govt, instead of listening to the public, are protecting criminals. Even the murder case against the minister's son is being delayed. Our hope of justice is diminishing by the day... We are deeply hurt."
Gurusewak Singh, elder brother of another slain farmer Gurwinder, 19, added, "Govt has given a clear message that there will be no justice in this case. By awarding the LS ticket to a murderer's father, BJP is strengthening the hands of culprits and weakening the case." He pointed out, "Many witnesses were forced to turn hostile and despite video evidence, the case was not taken up by a fast-track court..."
Cousin of farmer Lovepreet Singh, requesting anonymity, said, "There cannot be any justice until Ashish Mishra's father remains an MP. Ashish is already enjoying his life outside jail and his father is doing everything possible to save his son. We're getting a clear message that no court will convict his son. We still suffer from sleepless nights thinking about what happened then."
Tajinder Singh Virk, who was part of the Kheri protest, said in Rudrapur, "BJP has shown it is not serious about resolving our issues such as sacking Teni which has been one of our main demands for justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri case. The move is anti-farmer. We'll work with farm unions to strongly oppose this move." Virk, national convener of Samyukta Kisan Morcha and president of Terai Kisan Sangathan, had suffered severe injuries after he was run over by a vehicular convoy.
(Inputs from Aakash Ahuja in Rudrapur)
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