Union Minister Ajay Mishra calls Rakesh Tikait 'second rate person'
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra, who is facing flak over his son's alleged involvement in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which four farmers were mowed down by a car last year, has called farmer leader Rakesh Tikait a "do kaudi ka aadmi" or a second rate person.
In a video apparently of a speech made to his supporters, Mishra dismissed allegations levelled against him.
"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 in the violence at Tikunia village here during a farmer protest against the visit of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Mishra's village in Lakhimpur Kheri district.
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)," he 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," Mishra said.
Led by Tikait, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) had staged a 75-hour long dharna in Lakhimpur last week to press for various demands, including sacking of Mishra.
"He (Tikait) is doing politics in this manner and running his livelihood. They will be given a reply at the right time," Mishra is heard telling BJP workers in the video apparently in his Kheri constituency.
Reacting to Mishra's comments, Tikait said it was natural for him to be angry when his son is in jail for the past one year.
The Union minister, known for making controversial statements, also appeared to be giving a clarification in the speech over various allegations levelled against him.
"I have not done anything wrong in my life. I am fighting for the right thing. I have not even done .01 per cent wrong. Anyone can come forward and show otherwise. Truth is never defeated," he said.
Mishra is second consecutive term Lok Sabha MP from Kheri on a BJP ticket.
"No one in the world will be able to disappoint you. No matter how many Rakesh Tikait come," he is heard assuring his supporters to shouts of "zindabad".
"I have to say only this -- 'mujhko tum barkha na samjho aag ka dariya hoon mai,yeh to majboori hai meri apney aap mein jalta hoon main,'" he said amid shouts of supporters in his favour."
Replying to his insinuation, Tikait alleged that a "goonda raj" has been unleashed by Mishra in Lakhimpur and said they would soon launch a "mukti abhiyan" to free the place from Mishra'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 was heard saying in a video.
The farmer leader said such threatening comments of the MOS 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 said.
Tikait said the Lakhimpur Kheri incident would be a prominent issue wherever there is a farmers' agitation in the country.
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Bill making CM chancellor of RDPR varsity replacing Guv passed in Council by one vote
Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 18: The bill that proposes to replace the Karnataka Governor as chancellor of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) University with the Chief Minister, was passed in the Karnataka Legislative Council on Wednesday, by one vote.
Having passed by both houses of the legislature, the bill will now have to go before the Governor for his assent to become a law.
Leader of Opposition in the council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy opposed the bill and demanded for a division of votes during the voting on the bill. Hence, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti arranged for row wise headcount of members both in favour of and against the bill.
The division of votes showed 26 votes in favor of the bill, and 25 against it.
The Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University (Amendment) Bill, 2024 passed by the Assembly on Tuesday, seeks to amend the 2016 Act to make provisions for the Chief Minister to be the Chancellor, and for appointment of the vice chancellor by the chancellor from the panel of three persons suggested by search committee.
The Opposition BJP-JD(S) legislators walked out of the Assembly on Tuesday after clashing with the Congress, during the passage of the Bill.
Several opposition members questioned the intention of the government in replacing the Governor as the Chancellor of the university and insisted that the field of education should not be politicised.
JD(S) MLC T A Sharavana said the move seems to be out of hate towards the Governor, and suggested that there should always be a cordial relationship between the government and the Raj Bhavan.
"What the government is going to achieve by keeping the Governor away. CM is always busy politically and administratively. Can he give enough time towards the affairs of the University?" he asked.
BJP MLC C T Ravi questioned whether the Governor was not "cooperative" towards the University's functioning? "What is the intention behind bringing this amendment that was not there when the actual bill was brought a few years ago? Why is the constitutional authority being removed from the Chancellor's post?"
Congress MLC Ivan D'Souza, while defending the bill, said, "In what way the Governor can help the university? If the CM is the chancellor, he can organise funds for the development of the university. Nowhere law stipulates that only the Governor should be the chancellor. States like Gujarat have withdrawn the Governor from Chancellorship of various universities in their state."
Replying to the discussion, RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge said, the bill was not brought with any political malintention or out of any political hatred or to have any confrontation with the Governor.
The bill has been brought in to make the university function more efficiently, to make it coordinate with the government better and, to provide better quality of education and training for youths, he added.
"I have nowhere said that the Governor was not cooperating. As we felt that this is one of the better ways to manage the university, we have brought these amendments. Show me any guidelines including the UGC guidelines which says that only the Governor should be the Chancellor. No such guideline anywhere," Kharge said, pointing out that in various states like Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, the Governor has no role in several Universities.
