Nine workers of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) were detained by police on Friday, 29 May after staging a black-flag protest against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state President Madan Rathore during his visit to Kuchaman City in Rajasthan's Nagaur district. The demonstration turned tense, prompting police to intervene and remove the protesters from the area.

How the Confrontation Unfolded

Rathore had arrived in Kuchaman to attend a two-day Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay training camp when RLP supporters, already gathered near the venue, began raising slogans and waving black flags. The situation escalated when RLP workers were seen surrounding Rathore's vehicle. Authorities reportedly used mild force to disperse the crowd and restore order before detaining the nine workers.

Beniwal's Response

RLP convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal strongly condemned the detentions. 'Our fight against dictatorship will continue. It is everyone's right to democratically protest, and the government cannot silence our voice through the might of lathis,' he said. Beniwal added that he had spoken to senior Rajasthan Police officials and demanded the immediate release of the detained workers.

Beniwal also launched a counterattack through a series of posts on X, targeting the BJP over alleged controversies involving party leaders and ministers. He questioned the BJP's 'values and principles' while sharing posts related to a viral audio clip involving Minister Gautam Kumar Dak, against whom an FIR was reportedly lodged for allegedly abusing a police officer in Chittorgarh district. He also raised allegations of corruption against a BJP MLA and shared a video of Education Minister Madan Dilawar allegedly using offensive remarks against teachers.

The Bherana Dham Backdrop

The confrontation came amid an escalating political clash between the BJP and RLP over the Bherana Dham issue. Beniwal had backed an agitation by saints opposing the acquisition of land at Bherana Dham by the Rajasthan Industrial Investment Corporation (RIICO) for industrial use. After the administration accepted his demands, Beniwal withdrew the protest — but the war of words between the two parties only intensified thereafter.

BJP's Counterattack

BJP state Vice-President Jyoti Mirdha launched a sharp attack on Beniwal, alleging that the RLP sought to politicise an issue rooted in religious faith. Mirdha claimed that the BJP government was already engaged in addressing the concerns of saints and sadhus, and accused the RLP of exploiting the agitation for political gain. She also questioned Beniwal's political conduct, remarking that despite the RLP having no representation in the state Assembly, he often projects himself as though he were the Chief Minister.

Nagaur BJP district President Ramdhan Potlia accused Beniwal of using inappropriate language against Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, terming such remarks a violation of democratic norms. Rathore himself had earlier accused Beniwal of lowering the standards of political discourse, calling his conduct 'highly condemnable.'

What Comes Next

The RLP-BJP standoff in Nagaur shows no immediate sign of de-escalation, with both sides trading accusations publicly. The status of the nine detained workers remained unclear at the time of reporting. The dispute over Bherana Dham and the broader contest for political influence in Nagaur — a region where Beniwal holds significant sway — is likely to keep tensions elevated in the run-up to future electoral cycles.