Communal politics robbed Gehlot of victory
The Kanhaiyalal murder case served as a basis
The Sunday Mail
Jaipur. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recently mentioned the Kanhaiyalal murder case in Udaipur two or three times, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding swift punishment for the culprits. Gehlot had hoped that the Prime Minister, during his visit to Rajasthan, would discuss ensuring speedy justice for Kanhaiyalal’s family. However, nothing of the sort occurred.
Kanhaiyalal Sahu was brutally murdered in 2022. The police immediately apprehended the killers, but given the sensitive nature of the case, the central government took over the investigation. The NIA, an investigative agency under the Union Home Ministry, has been investigating the case for three years, but the culprits have yet to be brought to justice. The question now is: why does former CM Gehlot repeatedly raise the Kanhaiyalal murder case? First, as the former Chief Minister, it is his duty. Secondly, the incident occurred during his tenure. However, as the head of the state at that time, the Gehlot government did everything possible. The attackers were immediately apprehended. Kanhaiya Lal’s family was provided with 51 lakh rupees in aid. The children were provided with jobs. Gehlot was unable to ensure the culprits were punished because the investigation was taken over by the Modi government at the Centre.
Thirdly and importantly, former Chief Minister Gehlot and his government suffered a significant loss due to this massacre. As a result, they lost a winning game. Had this massacre not occurred, even his opponents within the party would not have been able to convert a certain victory into defeat. This massacre also gave the opponents an opportunity to poison the ears of the high command in Delhi.
BJP, which was devoid of any issue in front of the decisions and public welfare schemes of Gehlot government, also got the issue of Kanhaiyalal murder case which changed the politics of the state. The entire election was given a communal colour. By comparing the murder of a Muslim in Jaipur with the Kanhaiyalal murder case, so many lies were spread viral in the matter of help that the entire election took a communal turn. The voter felt that when big leaders of BJP were saying that Rs 5 lakh was given to a Hindu and Rs 50 lakh to a Muslim, then he believed it to be true. The people of the state, in their emotional state, forgot about free treatment up to Rs 25 lakh. Government employees ignored the old pension scheme, and farmers forgot about the 5,000 units of free electricity. Even the common voter did not bother about 300 units of free electricity. Free grain packets, increased pensions, the Right to Health Act, were all forgotten in one fell swoop. By the day of voting, the election became completely Hindu-Muslim. Some opponents tried to defeat him, and Gehlot lost the election he had already won. Gehlot’s third term proved to be a more challenging one. For the first two years, the Gehlot government struggled with the Corona epidemic and opposition within the party. He was largely successful in saving the public from the Corona epidemic. His government was praised across the country and the world. But his own people continued to cause him immense stress. Then-state president Sachin Pilot rebelled against his own government and used all his might to topple it. However, Gehlot’s vigilance saved the government. Sachin was dismissed as state president, but the protests continued. Shifting dynamics in Delhi once again tested Gehlot, and he succeeded. Despite widespread opposition from his own people leading up to the elections, Gehlot was confident of victory based on his public-friendly decisions and public welfare schemes. But communal issues robbed him of victory, a fact he and the Congress party regret to this day. The public has also begun to miss Gehlot. The crowds flocking to see and hear him have made it clear that Gehlot remains number one in terms of popularity.
Had Congress won Rajasthan, perhaps the country’s political landscape would have been different. Therefore, Gehlot will continue to lash out at the central government until Kanhaiyalal’s killers are punished. End
