Did Ex-Cong MLA Gopal Singh Chouhan Make Objectionable Remarks on the Yadav Community?

Synopsis
In a shocking turn of events, former MLA Gopal Singh Chouhan was arrested for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the Yadav community during a public event. This incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about communal tensions in the Gwalior-Chambal region. What does this mean for local politics and community relations?
Key Takeaways
- Gopal Singh Chouhan was arrested for derogatory remarks.
- FIR was lodged by a local BJP leader.
- Community tensions in the Gwalior-Chambal region are significant.
- Chouhan has a history of political loyalty to the Congress party.
- The incident raises questions about communal harmony.
Gwalior, May 13 (NationPress) Senior Congress figure and former MLA, Gopal Singh Chouhan, commonly known as Daggi Raja, was apprehended due to remarks deemed objectionable towards the Yadav community. Chouhan, a three-term MLA at 65, is recognized as a significant Congress leader in the Gwalior-Chambal region. Authorities reported his arrest at his home in Ashok Nagar district.
The arrest followed a First Information Report (FIR) lodged by a local BJP leader, accusing Chouhan of employing derogatory language against the Yadav community. The FIR was filed at the Chanderi police station on Monday.
During a recent event organized by the Lodhi community in Chanderi, Chouhan allegedly stated, "meri ek-ek goli se 6-6 Yadav marege." (My one gunshot will kill six Yadavs).
This statement incited strong opposition from the Yadav community, leading to the filing of the FIR. A second FIR followed on Monday, prompting police action that resulted in Chouhan's arrest.
It is worth noting that several districts in the Gwalior-Chambal area, including Ashok Nagar and Gwalior, have a significant Yadav population. Historical tensions between the Yadav, Lodhi, and Gurjar communities are prevalent in these regions.
According to Puneet Jain, Superintendent of Police for Ashok Nagar, "A complaint was lodged against Gopal Singh Chouhan at the Chanderi police station on Monday. The complainant provided a video showing the Congress leader using offensive language towards the Yadav community. He has been arrested and will be presented in court."
Chouhan is closely associated with former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and current Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh. He has successfully won elections in 2003, 2013, and 2018 for the Chanderi Assembly seat in Ashok Nagar.
In March 2020, during a significant political shift when many Congress MLAs from Gwalior-Chambal region joined the BJP to support Jyotiraditya Scindia (now a Union Minister), Chouhan remained loyal to the Congress party, aiding in its resurgence in the region.