New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, condemning two recent incidents of violence targeting Muslims over allegations of beef consumption. Expressing his concerns on the social media platform X, Gandhi voiced his alarm over what he sees as a growing climate of fear and lawlessness under the current government.Gandhi criticizes BJP for spreading fearIn his post, Gandhi accused the BJP of fostering an environment where hatred is used as a political tool. Those who have climbed the ladder of power by using hatred as a political weapon are continuously establishing a reign of fear across the country, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha wrote.नफ़रत को राजनीतिक हथियार बनाकर सत्ता की सीढ़ी चढ़ने वाले देश भर में लगातार भय का राज स्थापित कर रहे हैं।भीड़ की शक्ल में छिपे हुए नफरती तत्व कानून के राज को चुनौती देते हुए खुलेआम हिंसा फैला रहे हैं।भाजपा सरकार से इन उपद्रवियों को खुली छूट मिली हुई है, इसीलिए उनमें ऐसा कर… pic.twitter.com/WDadyNn1Mt— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 1, 2024Gandhi further criticized the unchecked spread of violence, stating that hateful elements hidden in the form of mobs are openly spreading violence, challenging the rule of law. He underscored his point by sharing screenshots of videos from the two incidents that have sparked outrage across the nation.Violence in MaharashtraOne of the incidents that Gandhi referred to took place on August 28, when a 72-year-old man named Ashraf Ali Syed Hussain was brutally assaulted on a train in Maharashtras Thane district. Hussain, a resident of Jalgaon, was traveling on the Dhule CSMT Express when a disagreement over seating quickly escalated. A group of men accused him of carrying beef in two containers and proceeded to kick and slap him, as captured in viral videos.Authorities have since identified six individuals allegedly involved in the assault, with three of them already in custody. The suspects face multiple charges, including unlawful assembly, rioting, and criminal intimidation.Tragic death in HaryanaThe second incident Gandhi highlighted occurred on August 27 in Haryanas Charkhi Dadri district, where a migrant worker named Sabir Malik was beaten to death by members of a cow vigilante group. Originally from West Bengal, Malik was lured to a shop under the pretext of selling empty plastic bottles. He was then accused of eating beef and was mercilessly beaten, leading to his death. Seven individuals, including two juveniles, have been arrested in connection with this heinous crime.Gandhi calls for action against anarchyGandhi strongly criticized the BJP government, alleging that such violent acts have been emboldened by the current administration. These miscreants have got a free hand from the BJP government, which is why they have the courage to do this. Attacks on minorities, especially Muslims, are continuing, and the government machinery is watching as a mute spectator, Gandhi asserted.He emphasized the need for strict action against these anarchic elements to uphold the rule of law, declaring that any attack on Indias communal unity and the rights of its citizens is an attack on the Constitution itself. No matter how much effort BJP makes, we will win this historic battle to unite India against hatred, he concluded.
