Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Claims Udaipur Tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli’s Killers Linked to BJP, Ahead of State Election

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has once again targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that the killers of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli were connected to the opposition party. Gehlot’s allegations come just days before the legislative assembly election in the state. Speaking to reporters during a campaign visit to Jodhpur on Sunday, Gehlot accused the BJP of attempting to incite communal tensions ahead of the November 25 polling.

Gehlot emphasized that if the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police had handled the case instead of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the investigation would have reached a logical conclusion. The case was initially registered at Dhanmandi police station in Udaipur but was later transferred to the NIA.

The chief minister further revealed that the accused individuals had been previously arrested by the police in another case, and BJP leaders had allegedly intervened to secure their release. “The culprits have links to the BJP. Days before the incident, when the police had arrested these accused in some other case, some BJP leaders visited the police station to get them released,” Gehlot stated.

Gehlot’s remarks were in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s accusations against the Congress government in Rajasthan. Modi had alleged that the state government engaged in “vote-bank politics” in relation to the Kanhaiya Lal case. During an election rally in Chittorgarh last month, Modi criticized the Congress government, stating, “The murder of Kanhaiya Lal ji is a big stain on the state government. Such a heinous incident happened in Udaipur because there is a Congress government which sympathizes with terrorists.”

In retaliation, Gehlot dismissed Modi’s claims as an attempt to stir up trouble ahead of the elections. He argued that the BJP sensed defeat and resorted to making baseless allegations instead of focusing on the achievements and initiatives of the Congress government. Gehlot highlighted the schemes and laws implemented by the Congress party, accusing the BJP of diverting attention from these accomplishments.

The incident in question occurred in June last year when Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor, was allegedly killed by individuals identified as Riaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad at his shop in Udaipur’s Dhan Mandi police station area. The accused individuals had recorded a video confessing to the crime. The motive behind the attack was reportedly a controversial social media post in support of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, who had made derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

The brutal killing of the Udaipur tailor sent shockwaves across the country, leading to widespread public outrage. Now, as Rajasthan gears up for the upcoming elections on November 25, with vote counting scheduled for December 3, the political landscape is intensifying. In the 2018 assembly election, the Congress emerged as the single largest party, winning 99 seats, while the BJP secured 73 seats in the 200-member House.

(With inputs from ANI).