UP Police treats union minister's son as its son-in-law: Congress

The Congress cited Supreme Court's anger and dismay over the delay in UP Police questioning the Lakhimpur case main accused, son of Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra, to slam the BJP and its governments at the Centre and state. AICC used the Lakhimpur incident to snub campaign manager Prashant Kumar for his 'unsolicited advice'.

"The Uttar Pradesh Police and administration are treating the minister's son, the murder accused, as its son-in-law. In such a situation, how can the ordinary people have faith in the attitude of the police and the administration," asked AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. "One murder accused is the Union minister of state for home affairs and another murder accused is the same minister's son. And when the minister is still retained in the Union ministry, the situation is nothing short of anarchy," he said. Surjewala also said he was constrained to refer to happenings in the Allahabad high court: A murder case involving Ajay Mishra has been pending before the court for 15 years now, while verdict in another case involving him has been reserved for verdict since February 2020.

The AICC spokesperson also showed unconcealed contempt to Kishor's tweet: "People looking for a quick, spontaneous revival of GOP-led opposition based on Lakhimpur Kheri incident are setting themselves up for a big disappointment." To media queries on Kishor's comment, Surjewala said, "I don't want to react to comments of a consultant." Unlike some others, the Congress would not look at Lakhimpur-like tragedies for 'gains' and 'losses' he said. In a democracy, people support those "who work on the ground. That is what Priyanka Vadra and Rahul Gandhi have been doing in UP," he said. Without taking names, another spokesperson, Pawan Khera, tweeted a sarcastic snub: "there is a difference between tacticians and strategists."