Parties let murder-rape accused go scot-free

The shocking disclosure that exposed the ruling BJP in Rajasthan and its arch-rival, the Congress, came straight from the horse’s mouth. The barbs exchanged between Congress deputy leader Ramesh Meena and home minister Gulab Chand Kataria as they tried to show each other in poor light in the state Assembly on Monday revealed that while in power both parties let off persons accused of serious crimes like murder, rape and forgery because of political affiliation or close proximity to the party in power.

Congress legislator Meena not only asked the question about cases withdrawn by the BJP government in the last two years but followed it up by accusing the state home minister of hiding the fact that the cases withdrawn included murder cases.

In reply to Mr Meena’s question, the home minister replied that 259 cases withdrawn were of a political nature registered during public agitation. Among the cases withdrawn one was related to trishul diksha and three belonged to the SC/ST Act. The court had given permission to withdraw all but seven cases. “Due procedure was followed and cases could be withdrawn only after the court’s assent. I swear that not a single case was withdrawn improperly or with mala fide intention,” he said.

But Mr Meena was adamant, even asking tauntingly that if Anandpal (a mafia don allegedly having the patronage of some BJP leaders who recently escaped on the way to court) applies for withdrawal of cases against him, would the government oblige him too.

Hitting back at the Congress legislators, Mr Kataria then disclosed that the erstwhile Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot withdrew 614 cases between 2009 and 2013, including 71 in the last six months, to give benefit to its leaders, their family members and relatives. These cases related to murder, rape, forgery, bounced cheques, corruption and violations of the Excise Act.

Amid loud protests and sloganeering by Congress MLAs, the state home minister read out names of Congress leaders, including ministers. Mr Kataria said that criminal cases were taken back on the pretext of public agitation.