Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot attacks MP govt, says no right to demolish homes without probe

Targeting the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh over demolition of homes of alleged rioters, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said nobody had the right to do so without an investigation and urged people not to tolerate those who act against the Constitution.


Speaking at an event on the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, Gehlot said "if rulers run bulldozers, where will the country's Constitution be."

His comments came a day after the Congress accused the ruling BJP in MP of "sponsoring" the recent communal violence in parts of that state during Ram Navami and alleged that houses of riot accused were razed without due legal process.

Gehlot said the law and the Constitution are being shredded in the country and democracy is in danger.

"For what purpose should Tejasvi Surya come here? Whatever happened in Karauli was a very unfortunate incident and we all have condemned it. During that time as well, we had said these people do the work of setting fire. Since then, these people are continuously raising the Karauli issue," Gehlot told reporters.

The Rajasthan chief minister said the rule of law should remain whether it is Congress, BJP or any other other party is in power.

"They should act to protect Constitution and the law," he said, adding that the true tribute to Ambedkar will be to protect the law and follow the Constitution.

"What can be a greater sin than this that they take oath and work against the Constitution," Gehlot said.

Gehlot said, "These people are shredding the law and the Constitution and the democracy is in danger".

The chief minister said the people of the country, especially the youth, will have to understand in which direction this country is going or else they will suffer in the coming times.

"They talk about Ambedkar. They never believed in Ambedkar's life, not did they accept him. They are making a statue of Sardar Patel, who banned RSS.

"These people are adopting different tactics to do politics and win elections. If the people of the country do not understand their tactics, then one day everyone will have to pay the price."

Gehlot paid homage to Ambedkar on his birth anniversary by garlanding his statue at Ambedkar Circle in Jaipur.

Gehlot also hit out at BJP MP Tejasvi Surya for trying to visit violence-hit Karauli town in Rajasthan on Wednesday and said "the BJP people work to ignite fire".

Surya had compared Gehlot to Aurangzeb, and accused the Congress the "modern-day Muslim League" of committing atrocities on Hindus after being stopped near Mahua on the Jaipur-Agra highway.

Gehlot said no untoward incident happened in Rajasthan on Ram Navami.

"There were riots in many other states and now bulldozers are being run. Where did this disease of running bulldozers come from? If the rulers run bulldozers, where will Ambedkar's rule be, where will his Constitution be."

Without naming any incident, Gehlot said, "Who raised the slogans and who instigated the riots is not known. The police made a list and went with bulldozers and started demolishing the houses. The poor people were crying when their houses were demolished."

"What kind of rule is this? The BJP is talking about arrest of innocent people in Karauli. In the eyes of the police they are accused. So, should our government go and run bulldozers as well."

Over 30 people were injured in the violence on April 2 after a bike rally being carried out to mark Hindu new year was pelted with stones in Karauli.

Gehlot said, "The chief minister of Madhya Pradesh is getting very happy. These people have become arrogant after they won the election in Uttar Pradesh in the name of bulldozer."

Later Gehlot told reporters, "After the Karauli incident, we held a meeting with police officers. We told the officers that there should not be any another such incident. Not a single untoward incident took place in Rajasthan on Ram Navami, whereas in many states, "riots broke out and now their houses are being demolished".

"Without any investigation, without being found guilty, you go and demolish someone's house. Even the chief minister and the prime minister do not have this right," Gehlot said.