Smriti Irani says may move SC in aide's murder

May 27, 2019 11:08

BJP leader Smriti Irani attended the funeral of her aide, a former village head and party worker who was shot dead in Amethi, and said she will "move the Supreme Court, if needed, to seek death sentence" for the killers.

Amethi - a bastion of the Gandhi family for decades - voted out Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, its three-time lawmaker, this time and opted for Irani.

Surendra Singh, former head of Barauli village, was shot dead by unidentified men around 3 am on Sunday. He was attacked at his home when he was sleeping, his son Abhay Singh told reporters. Seven people have been taken into custody in the murder case.

Smriti Irani reached Amethi in afternoon hours after the murder and met his family. She was one of the pallbearers at Surendra Singh's funeral.

"I have taken a vow before Surendra Singh ji's family. The one who fired at him and the one who ordered it.... even if I have to go to Supreme Court to seek death sentence for them, I will knock the doors of the court," she said after the funeral. She also said it has been the policy of Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath government to ensure justice

Irani had virtually stationed herself in Amethi ahead of the elections. Surendra Singh had actively participated in her election campaign and had earned praise from the BJP leader in her speeches at public meetings.

Rukmani Singh, Surendra's wife, has claimed he was killed because "he campaigned for the BJP leader". "He did not have any rivalry with anyone. It was only after he supported and helped Irani win that he was killed," she said.

Earlier, his son had alleged involvement of Congress supporters. "My father was an aide of Smriti Irani and he campaigned for her day and night. After she was elected as an lawmaker, a victory procession was carried out. I believe some Congress supporters didn't like it," he said.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Village defence guard killed in gunfight with terrorists in J-K

A massive search operation is underway to flush out the terrorists, who are believed to have recently infiltrated from Pakistan, they said.

Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders wary of resurgent Delhi Capitals

A resurgent Delhi Capitals will look to exploit Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling vulnerabilities and ascend to top-four in the table during their Indian Premier League match in Kolkata on Monday.

IAF continues firefighting in U'khand forests, Army roped in too

Efforts have also intensified to extinguish the raging forest fires in the state, especially in the worst-affected areas of Nainital, Haldwani and Ramnagar forest divisions, forest officials here said on Sunday.

They will be punished soon: CRPF on Manipur militant attack

The personnel who lost their lives were from the CRPF 128 Battalion deployed at the Naransena area in Bishnupur district in the state.

Modi indulges in fear-mongering post Phase 2 washout: Congress

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions for the prime minister ahead of his rallies in Karnataka.