During a rally in the poll-bound state of Chittorgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Ashok Gehlot government's performance on the law and order front, invoking the gruesome 2022 murder of a tailor in Udaipur.
While addressing a rally in Chittorgarh, a poll-bound state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns about the law and order situation in the state, using the gruesome murder of a tailor in Udaipur in 2022 as an example. He accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of already “accepting defeat.”
Referring to the shocking incident in Udaipur, the Prime Minister said, “Could anyone have imagined what happened in Udaipur? People came to get clothes stitched, and then someone slit the tailor’s throat, recording a video of the gruesome act.” He was alluding to the murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor, at his Udaipur shop in July the previous year.
Kanhaiya Lal had received threats due to his support for Nupur Sharma, a former BJP spokesperson who was removed from her position after making controversial comments about Prophet Muhammad, sparking a major controversy. On June 28 of the same year, two individuals, Gos Mohammad and Riyaz, visited Kanhaiya Lal’s shop under the guise of customers. There, they murdered him, recorded a video celebrating their heinous act, and shared it online.
During his address, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for projects worth ₹7,000 crore in the state of Rajasthan.
The Prime Minister criticized the Congress party’s governance in Rajasthan, suggesting that they had misled the people into forming a government but failed to run it effectively. He particularly targeted Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, accusing him of being preoccupied with preserving his position. This comment was a reference to the infighting between rival Congress factions led by Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, which nearly resulted in the toppling of the state government in 2020.
Modi claimed that Gehlot had already conceded defeat and was requesting the BJP not to discontinue government schemes. The Prime Minister assured the public that no public schemes would be halted by the BJP but rather improved.
Responding to speculation about the BJP’s choice for the Assembly polls, Modi ruled out announcing a Chief Ministerial candidate ahead of the elections. He stated, “The Kamal (BJP’s symbol, the lotus) is our face, and the Kamal is our candidate. We will ensure the Kamal’s victory.” This statement can also be seen as a message to Chief Ministerial aspirants within the party.
In another attack on the Ashok Gehlot government regarding law and order, the Prime Minister brought up incidents of crimes against women in Rajasthan. He expressed his distress over such atrocities and criticized the Congress for allowing them to become a tradition in the state.
Modi also mentioned the alleged corruption in the state government’s job recruitment exams, specifically the Rajasthan paper leak case. He pledged that a thorough investigation would be conducted, and action would be taken against those involved in corruption and the misappropriation of funds intended for the poor.
