Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish has been named in the police complaint for running over protesting farmers and locals with his car, reports The Hindustan Times
The incident took place in Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Lakhimpur Kher, which resulted in eight people’s death.
A longer version of the video that emerged on social media on Tuesday shows an SUV mowing down people. According to farm groups, a Mahindra Thar owned by Mishra knocked down them.
Farm leader Rakesh Tikai, while demanding the resignation of the minister, said, “The government has to dismiss the minister, arrest his son and fulfill its promises timely.”
“It all happened in front of me. My father was knocked down by the vehicle from behind. I tried to hold him but couldn’t do anything,” said 14-year-old Rajdeep Singh, whose father Daljeet was one of the victims.
However, the minister told NDTV that the vehicle which ran over the farmers was his but neither he nor his son was present at the spot when the incident happened.
In his interview, the minister stated, “As far as the vehicle is concerned, I was clear that my driver was killed, two workers were killed. One worker escaped, three workers are injured, and after that, the car stopped there.”
With the video being widely shared on different social media platforms, people are enraged and demanding strict action
The incident happened when a group of protesting farmers tried to block Mishra and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from visiting Tikonia area of Kheri as they were reportedly upset over a recent speech by the Union Minister.
