Rajasthan Election: After Kanhaiyalal was murdered last year for allegedly supporting a post on social media against Islam, his son Yash Sahu took up the task of staying barefoot, not cutting his hair and immersing his ashes until the culprits were hanged. Have sworn not to do it. Yash is 21 years old and remembering that horrific incident he says, “I will stick to my promise.”
Tailor Kanhaiya Lal was murdered by two knife-wielding men at his own shop in the busy Hathipole area of the city. This incident has also become an issue in Rajasthan Assembly elections. Elections for 200 assembly seats in the state will be held on November 25. Kanhaiyalal’s family currently lives in Govardhan Vilas Colony on the outskirts of the city. He says that even before the murder on June 28, he (Kanhaiya Lal) was receiving threats.
His elder son Yash Sahu said, “Our life has completely changed. Leaders come to us, blame each other. We do not want politics (on this issue), but we definitely want political parties to take a strict stand in this matter so that the culprits can get death penalty. Main opposition party BJP is planning to make this issue the main issue in the assembly elections. He is trying his best and has targeted the ruling Congress regarding this. However, the ruling party claims that the accused were associated with BJP.
BJP candidate from Udaipur seat Tara Chand Jain said, “The Kanhaiya Lal murder case will definitely have an impact on the elections.” There is anger among the people after this heinous incident.” He said, ”This was a complete failure of the Congress government. (Kanhaiya) Lal’s family had informed the police about the threat to his life but no action was taken. Due to this laxity this incident happened… it tarnished the image of the city. It was also linked to Pakistan, so how can people forget such a big incident.
According to Jain, the youth of the state have suffered loss due to the leak of question papers of government recruitment. Udaipur seat, one of the eight assembly seats in Udaipur district, had become vacant after BJP leader Gulab Chand Kataria, who was the MLA from here, was appointed as the Governor of Assam. Congress candidate from Udaipur, Gaurav Vallabh alleged that the accused in the Kanhaiyalal murder case were members of the BJP. “There are photographs of him with BJP leaders… one of them is ‘His Excellency’ (Governor of Assam),” he claimed.
Vallabh said, “The accused were members of BJP.” Rajasthan Police caught him and then NIA (National Investigation Agency) hastily took over the case? Amit Shah (Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader) should tell the people why this was done and to save whom.” After the incident, the Ashok Gehlot government of the state provided 24-hour police protection to Kanhaiyalal’s family and Both his sons have been appointed private security officers and given government jobs.
Kanhaiyalal’s wife Jashoda said that the case should be taken to conclusion. “The NIA does not tell us about the developments in the court and we only know about them from the news,” he alleged. Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammed are accused of murdering Kanhaiya Lal, shooting a video of the crime and sharing it on social media. There is an allegation of broadcasting it on the media. He was caught in Rajsamand district a few hours after the incident. After this NIA took this case into its own hands. Eight accused including Attari and Gaus are currently in judicial custody.
Meanwhile, members of the Muslim community in Udaipur said that the community has nothing to do with this incident and the matter should not be politicized. Religious leader Mufti Shakirul Qadri said, “The incident was unfortunate and condemned by the community. Politics should not be done on such issues and the entire community should not be linked to the matter.” Shatrughan, a businessman from Mandi area of the city, said, “Businessmen are in fear after the murder of Kanhaiya Lal.” Some also received threats. We want a safe environment and this can happen when a government works like the Yogi (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) government.
Apart from the Kanhaiyalal incident, there are also issues like better cleanliness, sanitation, roads, drainage and traffic management in the city of lakes. Udaipur assembly constituency has been a BJP stronghold for the last two decades and Kataria has won here four consecutive times since 1953. Kataria, a six-time MLA, was the leader of opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly. He was appointed the Governor of Assam in February.