Congress govt failed to protect minorities in Bharatpur riots: BJP

BJP Tuesday attacked the Congress government in Rajasthan for the riots in Bharatput alleging the state administration had failed to protect the rights of the minorities as all the victims were Muslims.

A delegation of BJP MPs, led by spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, visited Gopalgarh in Bharatpur where a clash had taken place between the Meo Muslims and Gujjars on September 14.

The BJP leaders met members of both the communities to find the reasons for the clash and study the ground situation.

"A secular riot has taken place in the rule of a self-proclaimed secular party. 219 rounds were fired during the riots and eight people were killed while eight more are missing. 23 people were injured. Of the eight dead bodies, three were retrieved from a well and were charred," Hussain told reporters after returning here.

BJP has charged that the Ashok Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan failed to save the lives of minorities. All the eight people killed and the other eight who are missing belong to the minority community.

"This was not a communal riot. The Congress government is trying to give it a communal colour. An altercation between an Imam and another person had led to tensions. While this was being sorted out, a clash occured between the minority community and the police," Hussain said.

He wanted to know why Rahul Gandhi had not visited the riot affected area.

"The Congress rajkumar has the time to go to Bhatta Parsaul but no time to go to Rajasthan where his party is in power," Hussain said.

The BJP delegation comprised of BJP MPs- Rajendra Agarwal (Meerut), Devji Bhai Patel (Jalore) and Ram Shankar Katheria (Agra), among others.

The BJP leaders alleged that at a mosque which had witnessed the clash, there were 43 bullet marks on the walls inside the structure and six outside.

Harping on "sadbhavana"- a term coined by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his three-day fast during the press interaction, Hussain said BJP stands for communal harmony and brotherhood while Congress had "failed" to uphold it in Bharatpur.

"There is a Congress government at the Centre, in the state, and even the local MLA is from Congress and yet no action was taken. Those who claim to be protectors of secularism are purposely giving this incident a communal colour," Hussain said.

The BJP delegation alleged the Congress government is trying to lodge some "forged FIRs" in the case and implicate some innocent people.

Hussain maintained Hindus are in a minority in Gopalgarh area and could not have been involved in starting the riots.

The delegation alleged the police had made the mosque a target in the riots by turning it into a "cantonment" and were occupying it without following the norms.

"The main issue in these riots has been the silence of crown prince Rahul Gandhi. The Congress president should also make her stand clear on this issue," Hussain said.