BJP rebukes MLA for provoking unrest

Raj BJP chief reprimands MLA over raising slogans in mosque

JAIPUR: Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore reprimanded Sunday party MLA and Hathoj Dham mahant (head priest) Balmukundacharya after he and his supporters raised slogans and stuck posters inside Jaipur's Jama Masjid before Friday prayers, triggering tensions in the city's walled area.

"Those who deliberately provoke unrest have no place in BJP. Such acts are a betrayal of our principles and will be dealt with strictly," Rathore said, adding that he had instructed all party members to uphold communal harmony and warned against actions damaging public trust.

Tensions escalated after Jaipur's Hawa Mahal MLA Balmukundacharya and his supporters stepped onto the first stair of the mosque on April 25. A large gathering of Muslims formed soon after, leading to unrest. An FIR was filed against Balmukundacharya at a Jaipur police station on charges of disrupting religious peace.

Protests intensified Saturday when police lathi-charged demonstrators demanding the MLA's arrest.

Rathore said Balmukundacharya had apologised and clarified his position. "I instructed him to prioritise peace and public sentiment," Rathore said, stressing that BJP "respects all religions and their places of worship" and advising against politicising the matter.

"Good governance cannot thrive without unity. We reminded our representatives that promoting peace and harmony is their foremost duty," he said, while urging Congress MLAs Rafeek Khan and Amin Kagzi to work for calm.

Adarsh Nagar MLA Khan welcomed Rathore's action. "I welcome your call to reprimand him for actions that undermine the dignity of a public representative," he said, stressing that all elected representatives must work to maintain peace and harmony.


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