Synopsis
On April 15, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh accused the BJP-led state government of not following the Supreme Court's guidelines on communal violence, citing recent incidents in Guna and Khargone. He criticized the government for failing to ensure law and order and described a troubling pattern of communal clashes.Key Takeaways
- Digvijaya Singh alleges BJP government ignored SC guidelines.
- Communal violence has escalated in Madhya Pradesh.
- Recent clashes occurred during a Hanuman Jayanti procession.
- The Supreme Court had previously issued guidelines post-Khargone violence.
- Police are accused of bias in handling communal incidents.
Bhopal, April 15 (NationPress) Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, asserted on Tuesday that the BJP-led state administration has not adhered to the directives issued by the Supreme Court concerning communal violence.
Pointing to the series of communal disturbances that have transpired across the state in recent months, the Congress leader claimed that the state's law and order situation has deteriorated due to ongoing communal unrest.
He recalled that the Supreme Court had provided comprehensive guidelines to state governments following the communal clashes that took place in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone and other areas in 2021.
“Nonetheless, the BJP-led government has not followed these directives. In the aftermath of the 2021 Khargone incidents, I submitted a petition to the Supreme Court. The apex court issued extensive guidelines aimed at preventing future occurrences. The state administration was instructed to designate the affected areas as disturbed zones. There are several essential points outlined in the Supreme Court guidelines,” he remarked.
Addressing a recent event of communal discord in Guna, where a clash erupted between two communities (Hindu and Muslim) during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday night, Digvijaya Singh accused the BJP of orchestrating these events.
“A troubling pattern has emerged where individuals from the Hindu community conduct religious processions while playing provocative songs against other religious groups, which incites communal violence. However, law enforcement tends to take action against only one community. This is the reality in Madhya Pradesh,” the former Chief Minister stated to reporters.
The violence that erupted in the Colonelganj area of Guna district resulted in minor injuries to 13 individuals. The confrontation occurred near a mosque, as members of both communities clashed while the procession passed through.
Guna's Additional Superintendent of Police, Maan Singh Thakur, reported that tensions escalated over loud music, prompting sloganeering and stone-throwing.
Authorities indicated that objections were raised regarding the loud DJ music and offensive religious slogans as the procession approached a place of worship.
“The verbal conflict between the groups swiftly escalated into violence. So far, at least 16 individuals have been apprehended in connection to the communal clashes, and investigations are ongoing,” he concluded.
