In a tragic turn of events, a prominent BJP leader was shot dead in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. Only a few days after the Congress came to power in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP leader, and Mandsaur Municipal Corporation President, Prahlad Bandhwar was shot dead in Nai Abaadi, Mandsaur, in what can be termed as a cold-blooded murder. The incident took place in a busy area when the attackers approached him and shot him point blank. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
The incident took place at around 7 pm on Thursday. A police officer said that the motorcycle of the attackers was recovered. Although the police is investigating the case and more details are yet to emerge, there is a sense of concern among the BJP workers about deteriorating law and order situation in the state just days after Congress was voted to power.
Earlier, Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, in the run-up to elections, had promised to “take care” (dekh lenge) of BJP leaders. In a viral video, addressing a gathering of Muslim leaders, Kamal Nath had promised “ham inse nipat lenge baad mein” allegedly referring to BJP and RSS workers and leaders.
Sambit Patra, National Spokesperson of the BJP had shared the video and slammed Kamal Nath for the statement and tweeted, “Kamalnath ji promises the Muslim clerics that the Congress will surely deal with the Hindus after the election …for now the Muslims should stand with the Congress!”
“अभी temporary जनेउ पहन रखा है …निपट लेंगे इनसे बाद में..”
The “fancy dress Hindus” are exposed yet again ..Kamalnath ji promises the Muslim clerics that the Congress will surely deal with the Hindus after the election ..for now the Muslims should stand with the Congress! pic.twitter.com/sZJmW15h7d
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) November 14, 2018
It seems this blatant hate-mongering has buoyed the criminal elements, giving them a sense of immunity that the CM is with them in their crusade against the BJP with fair or foul means. History is a witness as to how hundreds of BJP and RSS workers have been killed in non-BJP ruled states. Political killings targeting BJP party workers and RSS sevaks have been very common in the states of West Bengal, Kerala, etc.
It may be mentioned that in 2017 BJP president Amit Shah had accused the left of indulging in rampant political murders in the state of Kerala. “Communist Party should be ashamed, most murders took place in the chief minister’s area. Over 120 BJP workers have been killed since Communists came to power,” Shah had accused the CPI(M) in Delhi. Similar instances of politically motivated murders against the BJP have been recorded in the state of West Bengal. The body of a 34-year old BJP worker, Tapas Bagdi was found hanging in West Bengal’s Birbhum district last October. In July 2018 BJP worker Dhormo Hazra’s body was recovered from a pond in Murshidabad, just weeks after the death of two BJP workers in Purulia.
In an utter denial of a need of a major probe in the murder, Kamal Nath was quoted saying, “Son of the victim himself registered name of the accused in FIR. There’s no need for a big investigation, there are two eyewitnesses. Death should not be politicized especially when it’s an internal matter of a party.”
Is Madhya Pradesh going the Kerala and Bengal way? Law and order is a state subject and the silence of Congress leaders on the murder of BJP leader raises questions over the newly formed government in Madhya Pradesh. Hope CM Kamal Nath is listening.
