Udaipur Tailor’s Brutal Murder: Chief Minister Gehlot Alleges BJP Connection

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has accused the killers of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli of having links to the BJP, suggesting an attempt to create communal tension ahead of the November 25 Assembly elections. Gehlot expressed dissatisfaction with the NIA handling the case, asserting that the state’s Special Operations Group (SOG) would have ensured a more conclusive investigation.

Kanhaiya Lal was beheaded in his Udaipur shop on June 28, 2022, allegedly for supporting suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma. The incident followed Sharma’s suspension for an alleged rant against the Prophet.

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Gehlot highlighted the swift arrest of the assailants, Riyaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad, who posted a video on social media boasting about the crime and threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Chief Minister claimed the culprits had BJP connections, stating that BJP leaders had sought their release from police custody in a previous case. He accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from the government’s initiatives by making baseless claims.

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In response, PM Modi, at an October 2 rally, accused the Congress of playing “vote-bank politics” in the Kanhaiya Lal case and questioned their actions following the incident.

As Rajasthan heads to polls on November 25, both parties engage in a heated exchange over the handling of the Udaipur tailor’s murder, setting the stage for a closely watched election with results expected on December 3. In the 2018 Assembly elections, Congress secured 99 seats, forming the government with support from the BSP and Independents, while the BJP won 73 seats.