Jagendra Verma death: BJP leaders meet Ram Naik, demands Ram Murti Verma's removal

LUCKNOW: A delegation of BJP leaders today met Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and submitted a memorandum demanding dismissal of Cabinet Minister Ram Murti Verma who is accused of orchestrating killing of a Shahjahanpur scribe.

"A delegation met Governor Ram Naik at Raj Bawan and submitted a memorandum demanding dismissal of Verma for justifiable action," BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.

The delegation also included BJP's state unit vice-president Shiv Pratap Shukla and spokesperson Harish Chandra Srivastava.

The memorandum stated that the deceased journalist Jagendra Verma had given his statement before the City Magistrate on June 1 itself, the day he was allegedly set on fire by policemen, Pathak said.

The minister has been named in the FIR lodged by Jagendra's son and had been booked under IPC section 120B (criminal conspiracy) but since Ram Murti Verma still holds office the probe was not progressing and the scribe's family was on hunger strike demanding justice, he said.

"In the memorandum it has been stated that till the time Verma continues as minister justifiable action was not possible," Pathak said adding it has also been pointed out that policemen, who were suspended earlier, have not been arrested so far.

BJP has demanded that stern action should be taken against guilty and a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh should be extended to Jagendra's family, the spokesperson said.

"The Governor has assured that he will talk to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over the issue," he said.