Is the Congress in Himachal Engaging in Minority Appeasement?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BJP accuses Congress of minority appeasement.
- Claims of anti-Sanatan government policies.
- Allegations of bias in legal actions against Hindus.
- Calls for withdrawal of charges against BJP leaders.
- Request for investigation into financial transactions.
Shimla, June 21 (NationPress) Senior BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur has accused the Congress party in Himachal Pradesh of implementing a policy of appeasement towards minority communities, labeling the current government as “anti-Sanatan”.
“The Chief Minister and his associates have consistently claimed that they ascended to power by defeating a 97 percent Hindu ideology. This reflects the core beliefs and perspectives of the Congress party,” Thakur stated in a press briefing.
He emphasized that the Chief Minister has displayed an anti-Sanatan attitude repeatedly, particularly during the oath-taking ceremony on December 10, 2022, as well as throughout elections in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Karnataka. The former Chief Minister accused the administration of harboring a vindictive stance against Hindus.
“In any incident occurring within Himachal Pradesh, action tends to be taken against Hindus while members of the Muslim community often go unpunished.”
Thakur referenced several incidents to support his claims, including a murder case in Chamba linked to a love affair, cow slaughter incidents in Sirmaur district, and the mosque dispute in Sanjauli, where agitating Hindus faced legal action while others did not.
He highlighted an instance where two Congress ministers faced backlash for opposing Muslims in the Assembly, leading to their removal following directives from the party's high command.
In a notable case from Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district, an 18-year-old girl eloped with a 19-year-old Muslim man; her family filed a complaint on June 5, yet the FIR was only registered on June 10.
“This clearly indicates a case of love jihad. In this situation, stones were thrown from the residences of a specific community, yet no action was taken against them. Ironically, protesting Hindus faced severe charges, including attempted murder.”
BJP leader Thakur mentioned that four individuals were arrested, including state president Rajiv Bindal and senior leader Sukhram Chaudhary, who were not present at the scene, also facing attempted murder charges, necessitating an interim bail from the High Court.
“It appears the government is seizing the opportunity to falsely accuse senior leaders,” Leader of Opposition Thakur remarked.
He cautioned the government, demanding that the murder charges against BJP leaders be revoked and that a thorough investigation be conducted into the funds transferred to the individual involved in the love jihad case.