Madhya Pradesh: After murders of BJP leaders, another one attacked
What's the story
On Sunday, a BJP leader was attacked and robbed of valuables in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani area. The victim, identified as Jitender Soni, is a jeweler who was returning from the market when a group of five-six miscreants attacked him. They snatched gold, silver ornaments, weighing up to 30 kg, and cash. Before this incident, two BJP leaders were killed in the state.
Attacks
Soni was attacked in same area where BJP-leader was murdered
While Soni was attacked in the evening, BJP leader Manoj Thackeray was killed in the same area, earlier in the day. Thackeray had gone for his morning walk when unknown people murdered him. He had marks on his face and neck. Commenting on his death, BJP leader Antar Singh Arya's son Vikas said it was a result of 'political fallout'.
Murder
Last week, a BJP leader was shot in broad daylight
Notably, Thackeray is the second BJP leader to be killed recently. On January 17, Prahlad Bandhwar was shot dead in broad daylight in Mandsaur. Two days later, the prime accused was nabbed by Rajasthan police. He was identified as Manish Bairagi, a BJP worker. He reportedly shot Bandhwar over a financial dispute. But former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan didn't buy this theory.
Allegations
Chouhan is unhappy with Kamal Nath's government
Chouhan has upped his attack on his successor Kamal Nath and claimed the murders of BJP leaders was a 'cruel joke'. On Sunday, he tweeted Bandhwar's death was a part of a larger conspiracy and he couldn't digest the speculations that Bairagi killed him for money. He also highlighted the fact that Thackeray was murdered in the district of state Home Minister Bala Bachchan.
Twitter Post
Are these the 'changed days' Congress promised?
भाजपा नेता प्रह्लाद बंदवार की 25 हजार रुपये के लिए हत्या का तर्क गले नहीं उतर रहा है। इसके पीछे किसी गहरे षड्यंत्र की आशंका है। इसकी सीबीआई जांच होनी चाहिए। अपराधी बेखौफ हो गये हैं, लोग सरेआम मारे जा रहे हैं। क्या कांग्रेस का नारा ‘वक्त है बदलाव का’ ऐसा ही वक्त लाने के लिए था?
— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) January 20, 2019
Anger
Criminals have become more powerful, claims Chouhan
In a series of tweets, Chouhan said criminals have become powerful in the Congress rule. Law and order were in shreds, he claimed. He asked the government to take the matter seriously, otherwise BJP leaders would take to the streets. Separately, on Saturday BJP leaders submitted petitions to district officials. They want officials to take steps to improve the state's law and order.
Twitter Post
BJP leaders protest against violence
Madhya Pradesh: BJP workers and party leaders protest against Chief Minister Kamal Nath in Bhopal, against the recent murders of BJP leaders Prahlad Bandhwar in Mandsaur and Manoj Thackeray in Barwani. pic.twitter.com/KqILxolHUR
— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2019
Forming government
BJP could have returned to power, but didn't, reminds Chouhan
Chouhan also reminded the Congress that it didn't get a clear majority in the assembly elections, whose results were announced on December 11 last year. He said BJP could have easily returned to power but they wanted a strong government, not a helpless one. One can't miss the pattern in which BJP leaders are being targeted. Kamal Nath, certainly, has a lot to answer.