Congress again attacks government over lynching

The Congress on Sunday attacked the central government on the issue of mob lynching and said rumours were spread by people with vested interests to mobilise killer crowds.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala referred to the arrest of BJP member Nityanand Mahto in Jharkhand for instigating a mob that lynched a man, Asgar Ansari, in the state last week.

"Mahto instigated the mob; a video of the incident shows that the BJP leader was not just present at the spot but he dragged Ansari out of the van. As he watched, the mob then thrashed Ansari mercilessly," Surjewala said.

"Is it not a fact that more than 50 cases of lynching and mob justice have taken place in the past three years under BJP rule? Sangh Parivar organisations associated with the BJP, including Bajrang Dal and VHP, have actively been instrumental in many of these dastardly acts. Why has no action being taken against them?" he asked.

"Is it not a fact that a majority of the lynching incidents have taken place this year?" he added.

He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shedding crocodile tears by invoking the names of Mahatma Gandhi and Acharya Vinoba Bhave and said: "It is high time the BJP government takes note of this widespread mob frenzy and lynching incidents."

--IANS

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