BJP Leaders Stage Dharnas, Recite Hanuman Chalisa On Jaipur Blasts Anniversary

The BJP on Monday blamed the Rajasthani Congress government for the acquittal of the suspects in the Jaipur serial explosions case.

On Saturday, to commemorate the bombings’ fifteenth anniversary, dharnas were staged and Hanuman Chalisa was performed in various sections of the city.

On May 13, 2008, a string of explosions left 180 people injured and 71 dead in Jaipur. At Manak Chawk Khanda, Chandpole Gate, Badi Chaupad, Chhoti Chaupad, Tripolia Gate, Johri Bazar, and Sanganeri Gate, bombs went off one after the other.

Four defendants who were given the death punishment by a lower court in 2019 were exonerated by the Rajasthan High Court in March of this year on the grounds of poor investigation. The lower court cleared a fifth defendant in 2019.

“The accused were acquitted due to weak prosecution. Those who should have been handed the death penalty were acquitted because of poor investigation and poor prosecution of the Congress government. The BJP stands with the families of the victims,” state BJP president CP

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Joshi said at a dharna in Hawa Mahal area.

Another party leader said the BJP has filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court on behalf of two family members of the blast victims against the Rajasthan High Court verdict.

Describing the dharnas as ‘drama’, Rajasthan Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said the BJP leaders were shedding “crocodile tears” 15 years after the blasts.

He said the BJP faced a humiliating defeat in Karnataka because it wanted to win the elections in the name of Bajrang Bali, who is with the Congress.

“Congress is the true ‘bhakt’ (devotee) of Bajrang Bali. The BJP wanted to win Karnataka elections in the name of Bajrang Bali, but wherever they recited the Hanuman Chalisa Congress candidate won,” he said.

Khachariyawas accused the BJP of snatching food from people because of high inflation.

“Their intentions are not good and therefore they are losing mass support,” he alleged.

A lower court in December 2019 awarded the death sentence to Mohammad Sarwar Azmi, Mohammad Saif, Mohammad Salman and Saifur Rahman. It acquitted Shahbaz Hussain, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

The four given the death penalty challenged the lower court order in the Rajasthan High Court and a division bench acquitted them on March 29. It also upheld the acquittal of Shahbaz Hussain.

The court termed the case a classic example of institutional failure resulting in a botched/flowed/shoddy investigation.

Recently, the state government also filed an SLP in the Supreme Court.