Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra, abuses journalists, gets caught on camera

Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra 'Teni' on Wednesday lost his cool with journalists and used foul language and resorted to intimidation when asked about the special investigation team's (SIT) latest move to raise the charges against his son Ashish Mishra. The SIT team had stated in its report that the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre was not an act of "negligence" but a "well-planned scheme".

As the whole episode was caught on camera, Mishra, who is under fire from the opposition for holding on to his post, drew further flak as the video was circulated widely on social media.

He was in Lakhimpur to inaugurate an oxygen plant at a hospital. Asked by a local journalist about the fresh charges added to the warrant by the special investigation team (SIT) to book Ashish for "attempt to murder" and not "death by negligence", among others, Mishra lashed out at the journalist and said he was asking "stupid questions".


In a video shot by a bystander, which is on social media, Teni intimidated another reporter to "shut his phone". The episode took place even as both Houses of Parliament saw protests by opposition MPs over the issue.

"Has the chargesheet been made? If the SIT has submitted charges, then go ask the SIT such questions," he told the journalist angrily before he called journalists "chor" and said it was such media which had caused an "innocent" man to be framed, referring to his son, Ashish Mishra.

Naveen Awasthi, the local journalist who was at the receiving end, said in a video statement the mobile phones of a few of his fellow mediapersons were also snatched which had still not been returned.