New Delhi, Aug 23 (Agency) Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday accused Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra’s Teni of intimidating witnesses in the Tikunia case in Lakhimpur Kheri and said the Minister should be expelled from the district as well as Uttar Pradesh. Tikait told reporters: “He is an accused under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). If he is allowed to roam freely, there will be an atmosphere of fear and it will hamper the investigation.” He added: “There is an atmosphere of fear in Lakhimpur Kheri. He has created terror in the district.”
“The court and police should do its work. Teni should be barred from entering not only the district but even the state as he is intimidating witnesses.” On Teni’s statement calling him “worthless” man and comparing him with a dog, Tikait said: “He is a man of stature, I am a small man. We went with 50,000-60,000 people to (Lakhimpur) for three days. It’s obvious that a man will say something out of anger. His son is behind bars for the last one year. It’s obvious that the man will get angry.” The BKU leader said he does not pay heed to the Minister’s statement as he works on the ground. “This time we went for three days, next time we will stay there for 13 days. The Lakhimpur Mukti campaign will continue as goonda raj prevails there,” Tikait said.