Madhya Pradesh minister sees ‘BJP conspiracy’ in Bhopal minor rape-murder

The BJP has called the statement ‘disgusting and condemnable’

Madhya Pradesh minister sees ‘BJP conspiracy’ in Bhopal minor rape-murder P.C. Sharma has asked the police to probe all possible angles in the matter | Facebook

On a day when ex-chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan started a ‘beti bachao’ campaign from the locality where a nine-year-old was raped and murdered last week, Madhya Pradesh public relations and legislative affairs minister P.C. Sharma raised heckles by talking of a possible ‘BJP conspiracy’ behind the heinous incident.

The minister while speaking to THE WEEK said that the fact that the accused was given a shanty on rent by a BJP worker only a few months ago, that the police were not informed of this according to rules and then BJP workers trying to cause a hullabaloo over the incident in the same locality, reeked of conspiracy.

“We nabbed the culprit in 24 hours, presented the charge sheet in 48 hours and expecting verdict within a month. Yet the BJP is making big issue out of the incident. So I have asked the police to probe all possible angles,” Sharma said.

“Also now the former chief minister is starting his so called campaign to save girl children and attempt to form local level committees (mohalla samiti) from the same locality is all questionable. Such attempts cannot be specific but is a government move. So many incidents of violent crime against women happened in the BJP regime. Why did Shivraj Singh Chouhan not start such a campaign then?” the minister asked.

Earlier speaking to the media, Sharma also said that the BJP and RSS are known for hatching conspiracies and this could be a move to defame the Congress government.

The BJP, meanwhile, has termed the statement on ‘conspiracy’ by Sharma as ‘disgusting and condemnable’. The chief spokesperson of BJP, Deepak Vijayvarigya said to THE WEEK that Chief Minister Kamal Nath should question P.C. Sharma about his statement and the party should make it clear whether (Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi also holds such a view.

Shivraj’s Campaign

Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a ‘beti bachao’ convention on Saturday with an objective of creating a ‘social campaign’ to save girl children from crime. In what is looked upon as his personal initiative, Chouhan also said that mohalla samitis would be formed in all vulnerable localities and on July 7 a joint march of all this samitis would be held. He initiated the process from the locality where the minor rape-murder occurred on June 9.

Meanwhile, the PR minister P.C. Sharma also narrated a list of achievements of state government during the past six months, highlighting the fact that the government got only three months to work due to election code of conduct. Congress government would complete six month in rule on June 17.

“We have fulfilled almost 100 promises out of our vachan patra in this duration. From farm loan waiver to investment approval of Rs 6 crore, halving power bills of farmers, doubling pensions of senior citizen and DA of employees, increasing the sum for girls’ marriage scheme, upgrading of cow shelters and so on,” he said.

In-charge ministers, district Congress presidents and other office bearers would hold press conferences at district level and meet workers and people to highlight their six-month achievements, he said.