What sparked the Congress and BJP's heated exchange after Jitu Patwari's FIR?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Political tensions are high between Congress and BJP in Madhya Pradesh.
- Allegations of coercion and false claims are at the center of the dispute.
- Dalit rights and accountability of political leaders are critical issues.
- The situation reflects broader challenges in political integrity.
- Media coverage plays a vital role in shaping public perception.
Bhopal, June 28 (NationPress) Leaders from the Congress and BJP clashed verbally on Saturday after an FIR was lodged against Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari. He is accused of coercing two individuals into making false accusations against a local villager in Orchha earlier this week.
The FIR was filed at the Mungaoli police station in Ashoknagar district on Friday night, stemming from an investigation into an alleged assault incident where two Dalit individuals were reportedly forced to consume human excreta.
A video shared on social media on June 25 featured two Dalit youths, Gajraj Lodhi and Raghuraj Lodhi, who claimed they were beaten by a village sarpanch and his son.
They also alleged they were compelled to eat human excreta.
The village sarpanch is affiliated with the OBC (Yadav) community.
After this incident gained attention on social media, Patwari and other Congress leaders launched a fierce critique of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, questioning the state's law and order situation.
However, the narrative shifted dramatically on June 26 when Gajraj and Raghuraj submitted an affidavit to Ashoknagar District Collector Aditya Singh, asserting they were coerced by Congress leaders to produce a video and falsely accuse the village sarpanch.
In light of this, the Mungaoli police filed an FIR against Patwari under various sections, including criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity.
In response, Patwari stated that as an opposition leader, he raised the issue to demand action, accusing the police of pressuring the victims to alter their statements.
He declared, "The Congress will persist in the fight against atrocities targeting Dalits, regardless of the number of FIRs lodged by the BJP. The victims were coerced into changing their statements and submitting an affidavit. We demand an independent investigation into this matter," he told reporters in Bhopal.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Ashish Agrawal contended that the Congress is deliberately trying to damage the BJP government's reputation through fabricated claims, which have now been unveiled.
"The Dalit youths, in their affidavit, claimed they were enticed by Jitu Patwari and other Congress leaders to make false allegations against the BJP government. Now that Congress' conspiracy has been exposed, they are blaming the BJP and the police," Agrawal stated.