– Raheem Khan
Jaipur, Aug 29: In a startling turn of events, Congress MLA and Chief Whip from the Adarsh Nagar constituency, Rafeek Khan, was assaulted by a youth on Thursday while on his way to the Assembly from his residence in Bani Park, Jaipur. The assailant, who was quickly subdued by Khan’s supporters, was handed over to the police without any injuries sustained by the legislator.
The attacker was identified as Vikas Jakhar, former Assistant Commandant in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and a recipient of the Shaurya Chakra award. Jakhar, who reportedly took voluntary retirement from the CRPF in 2021, expressed disillusionment over alleged irregularities in government recruitments during police interrogation, according to DCP West Amit Kumar.
The incident has sparked a strong reaction from political leaders. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the attack on Twitter, stating, “I strongly condemn the attack on Rafiq Khan, Chief Whip of the Congress Legislature Party. There is no place for violence in a democracy. Such an attack on an MLA is a result of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The guilty person involved in this attack should be punished.”
Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasara also voiced his concerns on social media, tagging Rafeek Khan in his tweet. He criticised the state’s law and order situation, stating, “What bigger example of the jungle raj and the collapsed law and order of the BJP government can there be than the fact that even an MLA is not safe in the state. I strongly condemn the incident of assault on Congress MLA Rafiq Khan. The government should take strict action against the accused. When people’s representatives elected by the people are not safe in the BJP government, what will be the safety of the common people?”
Rafeek Khan, who also serves as Chairman of Rajasthan State Minority Commission, regularly holds public hearings at his residence in Bani Park. Recounting the assault, Khan told the media that the attacker approached him as he was leaving his house after a public hearing and initiated an argument. The situation escalated quickly when the assailant punched him and attempted to strangle him before Khan’s supporters intervened.
Expressing his concerns about the possibility of a deeper conspiracy behind the attack, Khan remarked, “If a weaker person had been in my place, they could have been seriously injured.” The incident underscores growing concerns over the safety of public representatives in Rajasthan and the state’s broader law and order situation.
The authorities have arrested the assailant, and further investigations are underway to uncover the motive and any potential links to a larger plot.
