Madhy Pradesh govt plans tough anti-lynching law

BHOPAL

: Law minister PC Sharma on Thursday said

Madhya Pradesh

should have a law to curb mob lynching, and that he will discuss the issue with home minister

Bala Bachchan

.


Talking to reporters on the Manawar mob lynching, Sharma said the state government will finalise a strategy soon to prevent such crimes. “The lynching is very shocking. The government has formed an SIT to investigate it. Chief minister Kamal Nath has ordered stringent action. I will speak with home minister to formulate stringent laws against mob lynching. We need to stop such incidents and the government will take appropriate action in the regard,” Sharma said. The SIT would comprise an additional SP, a city SP, a town inspector and administrative officials.

The BJP, however, said the lynching was a blot on the state’s image and the party will seek answers from the state in the forthcoming budget session of assembly.

Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava said: “The Congress government has failed to control law and order. Madhya Pradesh has been turned into a ‘Talibani’ state. BJP will raise the issue in the budget session next month.” Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said there is a ‘jungle raj’ in MP. “This is a very unfortunate incident. Law and order have been completely destroyed in the state. There is no fear of the law. This is called ‘jungle raj’. There should be a thorough investigation into this incident and strict action taken against those responsible,” said Chouhan.

BJP took strong objection to the arrest of party member Ramesh Junapani in the Manawar lynching and accused the Congress government of trying to misguide people by connecting the saffron party with the incident.

“It’s unfortunate that the government has linked the mob lynching in Dhar with BJP. Congress is trying to misguide people by naming a BJP leader in the incident to reduce the gravity of the crime. In the past year, the government has linked several BJP leaders with crimes, but has failed to control criminal activities. We demand that the chief minister resign and take responsibility for the deterioration of law and order in the state,” said Singh.

“MP used to be an island of peace during BJP’s 15-year rule. Incidents of gory crimes, including abductions, mass murders and mob lynching were never reported from the state. The Congress government is responsible for the increase in crimes,” he alleged.

Reacting to Singh’s allegations, Congress media coordinator Narendra Saluja remarked that in all such criminal activities, BJP leaders have been found to be involved. “In Manawar, too, BJP leader Junapani was found provoking villagers and led the mob to attack the seven farmers. There is video evidence against him. He is an influential leader in the area and boasts of his contacts with top BJP leaders. BJP should know facts before calling MP a Taliban state,” said Saluja.