By PTI
UDAIPUR: Under attack over incidents of communal violence in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday accused the BJP of instigating riots on “orders of its high command”, which he said wants to create instability in the state.
Targeting BJP leaders, Gehlot said they are trying to defame the Congress party’s government in the state as they are “unable to digest peace”.
The CM’s statement came as the opposition BJP in the state has relentlessly attacked his government over incidents of communal violence in the state’s Jodhpur, Alwar and Karauli since April 2.
“The BJP is nervous. Therefore, they are instigating riots. When BJP national president J P Nadda Sahab came to Sawai Madhopur even then I had said that he has come to set fire and the violence erupted in Karauli,” he told reporters in Udaipur.
Communal violence had erupted in Karauli on April 2 when a bike rally being taken out by Hindu outfits was pelted with stone while passing through a Muslim-dominated area.
Referring to communal tensions in Jodhpur, he said there was no such issue which could have led to the rioting there.
The BJP is “unable to digest peace” in the state, he alleged.
“They have instructions from their high command to defame the Rajasthan government and create instability as much as they can,” the CM alleged.
Gehlot said Congress is being blamed for the demolition of two temples in an anti-encroachment drive in Alwar’s Rajgarh but the proposal to remove the structures was passed by the BJP-led civic body there.
“Thirty-four of 35 councillors in the Nagar Palika there are from the BJP,” he said.
The chief minister said that there was peace in Rajasthan on Ram Navami while riots broke out in seven states of the country.
“Bulldozers were run over the (houses of) poor there. What has not happened in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi but there is peace here and they are not able to digest it,” he said.
“We did not let riots take place anywhere, neither in Karauli, Rajgarh nor in Jodhpur. There was no casualty, no major incident, no accident,” Gehlot said.
“If there are tensions, we will take action and those involved in riots, be it of any caste, religion, class or political party, will be treated equally,” he said.
Communal tensions had gripped Gehlot’s hometown Jodhpur on Eid on Tuesday over the hoisting of a flag, prompting the authorities to impose a curfew and suspend mobile internet services.
As many as 141 people have been arrested so far in connection with communal clashes.
The situation is under control and no fresh incident of violence has been reported, police said.
Nearly 1,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.
Earlier, the authorities issued orders imposing a curfew till Wednesday midnight besides suspending mobile internet services.
DGP M L Lather said 141 people have been arrested and 12 FIRs registered in Jodhpur.
Four FIRs were registered by police and eight lodged by people, he said.
He said nine policemen were injured in the violence.
Tensions broke out the night intervening Monday and Tuesday over putting up of Islamic flags on the Jalori gate circle, which led to stone pelting.
The situation was brought under control in the early hours on Tuesday with heavy deployment of police but tensions escalated again in the morning after prayers at an Eidgah close to the Jalori gate circle.
Shops, vehicles and houses were pelted with stones near the Jalori gate area.
Gehlot on Tuesday appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony and has sent two ministers Rajendra Yadav and Subhash Garg to Jodhpur.
The clashes triggered a war of words between Gehlot and the BJP.
Talking to reporters Gehlot on Wednesday accused the BJP of instigating riots on the “orders of its high command”.
Targeting BJP leaders, Gehlot said they are trying to defame the Congress party’s government in the state as they are “unable to digest peace”.
“The BJP is nervous. Therefore, they are instigating riots,” he told reporters in Udaipur.
“They have instructions from their high command to defame the Rajasthan government and create instability as much as they can,” the CM alleged.
Earlier on Tuesday, the BJP targeted the state government over law and order.
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat claimed that police are working under pressure.
Shekhawat threatened that he, along with other party leaders, will sit on a dharna at the Jalori gate circle if the rioters are not arrested.
State BJP president Satish Poonia had alleged that communal incidents are taking place “under the patronage of the state government.”
He alleged that saffron flags were removed by anti-social elements and an Islamic flag put up on the statue of freedom fighter Balmukund Bissa.
