Is Digvijaya Singh's Visit to Harda Igniting Political Tensions?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Political tensions are escalating in Harda following police action against protestors.
- Digvijaya Singh's visit could either alleviate or intensify the situation.
- The BJP and Congress are leveraging the incident for political advantage.
- Concerns over police brutality and public safety are central to the discourse.
- Over 60 individuals were detained during the protests, highlighting the unrest's scale.
Harda (Madhya Pradesh), July 14 (NationPress) A police lathi charge aimed at dispersing a disruptive crowd of Karni Sena members during a protest in Madhya Pradesh's Harda district has sparked a political uproar, with the ruling BJP and opposition Congress exchanging fierce accusations.
The situation is expected to escalate as veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh plans to visit Harda district to engage with police and administrative officials.
Singh, representing the Kshatriya community, will be joined by his son and Raghogarh MLA Jaivardhan Singh. The pair will also be meeting with members of the Karni Sena during their trip.
The protest occurred on Saturday when Karni Sena members demonstrated for the release of their Harda district president, who had been apprehended earlier due to a local dispute. To manage the situation, police reportedly deployed tear gas, water cannons, and executed a lathicharge to break up the assembly.
Sources suggest the situation escalated when Karni Sena volunteers allegedly hindered police from transporting the arrested individual, Mohit Verma, to court. Verma had been taken into custody following a complaint from Karni Sena functionary Ashish Singh Rajput, who claimed he was scammed out of Rs 18 lakh by Verma and two accomplices. The confrontation led to a skirmish, prompting the administration to take action.
Over 60 individuals, including Karni Sena national president Jeevan Singh Sherpur, were detained. In reaction, the district administration enforced prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on Sunday.
Speaking to the media, Digvijaya Singh criticized the police for what he termed as excessive force.
“Police invaded hostels and assaulted students, including females. I am not affiliated with Karni Sena, but I vehemently oppose this kind of police brutality. Young people are being victimized in the name of law and order, and this must cease,” he stated.
Singh mentioned that he had already communicated with the Harda district collector and would be visiting the area with his son, Jaivardhan.
In contrast, the BJP defended the police's actions, asserting they were necessary for maintaining public order. The party accused the Congress of politicizing the matter and inciting unrest.
“The Congress is attempting to disrupt law and order in the state for political gain,” stated MP BJP president Hemant Khandelwal on Sunday.
“The Harda incident was a personal conflict between two individuals, but the Congress has exaggerated it, inciting communal tension. The BJP government will ensure peace is preserved and will act decisively against those attempting to create turmoil,” he added.