Addressing escalating religious tensions and conflicts in India in recent months, Congress leader Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made a startling claim against his rival parties, the RSS and the BJP, on Sunday.
According to Gehlot, all of the culprits in recent religious disturbances, including the Jodhpur violence, were from the RSS-BJP. In recent weeks, severe communal violent episodes in Rajasthan have occurred in Jodhpur and Karauli.
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“All the culprits in the recent communal disturbances in the nation were from RSS-BJP and not Italy,” Gehlot told ANI. Gehlot has often slammed the BJP for instigating violence in his home state of Rajasthan.
The party that profits from riots is the one that starts them. Their aim is Hindutva. Is Congress gaining from the riots? They are just slandering us.
The allusion to Italy comes from Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who the BJP often criticizes because of her ethnicity.
Gehlot also blasted Home Minister Amit Shah, asking why he isn’t conducting an impartial investigation into the situation and if communal riots are a worry for the BJP.
“Why doesn’t Union Home Minister Amit Shah have the fortitude to conduct an investigation (into the riots in seven states) so that they may be presented in the future…
‘RSS Prachark’ is Prime Minister Modi… Why don’t the RSS and the BJP merge?” Gehlot said.
Communal riots erupted in Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s hometown of Jodhpur just before Eid last month, causing officials to ban mobile internet services and enforce a curfew in 10 police station districts.
There was a riot in Jodhpur over religious flags atop the Jalori entrance circle, which resulted in five police officers being hurt.
Later, following significant police presence brought the situation under control, but tensions rose again the following day after Eidgah’s prayers. Near the Jalori gate area, shops, automobiles, and homes were attacked with stones.
