Jaipur: Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot Sunday hit back at Union home minister Amit Shah for his remarks against the Congress over Vande Mataram and questioned why he had not spoken about the status of the 2022 Udaipur Kanhaiya Lal murder case during his visits to the state.
Addressing a press conference at his residence here, Gehlot said Shah has visited the state multiple times, particularly the Mewar region comprising Udaipur and nearby areas, but has never mentioned the Kanhaiya Lal case or the progress of the investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Lal, a tailor, was allegedly murdered in 2022 in Udaipur by two cleaver-wielding men inside his shop. Lal was killed allegedly for insulting Islam.
The case is with the NIA, which comes under him as Union Home Minister. He has never discussed what has happened in the case, Gehlot said.
His remarks came after Shah, during his visit to Chittorgarh on Sunday, attacked Sonia Gandhi for allegedly stopping Vande Mataram midway during the Independence Day function at the Congress headquarters on Saturday.
Gehlot said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has already clarified the issue and accused the BJP of trying to create a controversy to divert attention from other matters.
He also alleged that the BJP government in Rajasthan was under pressure ahead of the forthcoming local body and panchayat elections and was putting pressure on district collectors and police to work in favour of the BJP.
Gehlot also referred to a recent protest by forest minister Sanjay Sharma against district officials in Alwar, saying it was an unprecedented situation for a minister of the ruling government to sit on a dharna against the district collector.