By Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi, April 20 : Congress party on Monday flayed the ruling BJP for attempting to communalize Palghar (Maharashtra) mob-lynching incident. Party said it is shameful on the part of BJP to ‘inflame communal passions’ while there was no communal or Hindu-Muslim angle to the attack. All the 110 persons arrested in the killing of three people including two sadhus are local Aadivasis and the Maharashtra’s coalition government has also ordered a CID inquiry into the incident.
The incident of mob lynching in village Gadchinchli on the border of Dadar Nagar Haveli (110 Kms away from Palghar) took place on the night of 16th April. In the incident three people were beaten to death by the villagers on suspicion of being thieves. The victims included two sadhus of the Juna Akhada and their driver who were travelling to Surat to attend a funeral. The area is dominated by the tribal people. However, BJP and its cohorts are making attempt to give it communal colour.
Deploring such attempts, Incharge of party’s Communications, Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Congress unequivocally condemned the incident as there is no place for violence in a civilized society and the strictest possible action must be taken against the accused.
He has made it clear that the lynching incident has no religious or communal angle but a there is a section of forces that does see an opportunity in every such incident to foment communal passion.
“There is no communal or Hindu-Muslim angle to the attack as is being sought to be projected by those, who see an opportunity in every such incident to inflame communal passion. We urge all such persons and groups including political parties and a section of media to desist from doing so.”
Taking the name of BJP, senior Congress leader said it is shameful that BJP and its echo system as well as a section of media are trying to give its communal tinge.
“Tragically, BJP & its echo system as also a section of media are attempting to project the incident with communal overtones. These attempts to politicise are deeply shameful and must be rejected with the contempt they deserve.”
The coalition Government of Maharashtra has lodged an FIR and arrested 110 people including 9 Juveniles. It has also ordered a CID Crime Investigation by DGP, Atul Kulkarni. All the arrested persons are local Aadivasis from Vikramgarh Taluka in District Palghar.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said stern action will be taken against those involved in the lynching.
According to reports, the victims included two sadhus of the Juna Akhada and their driver were travelling to Surat to attend a funeral who y took a diversion since their car was stopped by police due to the lockdown. When they were passing through a village a crowd surrounded them and started questioning them. They then dragged them out of their car, assaulted them brutally with sticks, rods, and stones. When the police reached the spot, the crowd attacked them and damaged the van and injured some policemen were injured.