The recent murder of BJP leader Birjhu Taram in the Mohla Manpur district of Chhattisgarh, allegedly by Naxalites, has ignited a fiery exchange of allegations and counter-allegations between the BJP and the ruling Congress. Both parties have accused each other of involvement in the murder and have called for an investigation into the tragic incident.
Birjhu Taram, a prominent BJP leader in Mohla Manpur, was fatally attacked in the Audhi police station area while en route to witness Durga Puja festivities late in the evening. The police suspect that Naxalites were responsible for his murder, as he had reportedly been on their hit list for some time. This unfortunate incident has heightened tensions between the BJP and Congress, especially in the midst of the election season.
Prominent BJP leaders, including BJP National Vice President Dr. Raman Singh and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, paid their respects at Birjhu Taram’s funeral. Mandaviya expressed deep concern about the targeted killings of BJP leaders and criticized the state’s law and order situation. He referred to Birjhu Taram’s murder as a glaring question mark on Chhattisgarh’s security system. Dr. Singh stated that the circumstances surrounding the murder strongly suggest it was a case of targeted killing and implied the presence of a political conspiracy. BJP State President Arun Sav labeled it as a case of target killing and directed his criticism towards the Congress.
Meanwhile, BJP’s national spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, currently touring Chhattisgarh, asserted that the murder of Birjuram Taram, a senior BJP worker in the Mohla-Manpur area, at the commencement of the democratic festival, exposes the state government’s law and order failures. He emphasized that the BJP would vigorously pursue swift justice for its slain party member. Bhatia also expressed concern over the silence of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel regarding the incident.
In response to BJP’s accusations, Sushil Anand Shukla, Chairman of the State Congress Communication Department, accused the BJP of politicizing the situation and exploiting the tragic events for its benefit. He suggested that BJP’s statements were reflective of opportunistic politics and noted that the party had a history of capitalizing on such situations. Shukla further called for an investigation into the potential involvement of the BJP in Birjhu Taram’s murder and questioned whether the incident was politically motivated.
Shukla also raised questions about security measures, particularly why Birjhu Taram was not provided with security despite the Central Government’s efforts to protect 24 BJP leaders. He sought clarification on the criteria for security provision. He recalled the tragic history of target killings in the state and implied that security measures should have been more robust.
As the political duel unfolds, the incident has heightened tensions between the two major political parties in Chhattisgarh, with the demand for a thorough investigation into Birjhu Taram’s murder taking center stage.
