New Delhi: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh strongly criticised the BJP-led state government for alleged bias and misuse of power during the recent incidents of targeted violence and rioting against the Muslim community in Madhya Pradesh. Speaking at the Constitution Club, Singh highlighted the violence in Ratlam and Maksi in detail. He was accompanied by the victims of the violence.
“Since 2014, BJP governments have framed innocents while shielding real perpetrators,” Singh stated. He cited video evidence and testimonies to illustrate how lawful officials attempting impartial work, such as Ratlam SP Rahul Lodha, faced punitive transfers. Singh condemned this as a “method of governance divorced from constitutional principles.”
At the press conference, Singh detailed the September 7 incident in Ratlam, where a Ganesh Chaturthi procession took an unapproved route near a minority worship site, sparking violence. He claimed radical elements falsely accused minorities of stone-pelting, which led to attacks on a mosque and local shops. SP Lodha’s probe clearing the community and arresting the actual rioters resulted in his immediate transfer, reinforcing allegations of systemic bias. Singh also narrated the September 23 violence in Maksi, where clashes during a BJP membership drive resulted in fatalities, including Amzad Khan’s death and Junaid’s severe injuries.
Singh has written to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah, urging adherence to constitutional and Supreme Court guidelines on riot management, impartial investigations, and accountability for perpetrators and complicit officials. He stressed the need for rehabilitation and justice for victims, like Amzad’s grieving family, whose daughter Maida pleaded for justice with a placard. Singh called for a fairer approach and hinted at organising a Communal Harmony March to press for justice and transparency in handling communal violence.
