'Political conspiracy' behind Phagwara clashes: Punjab BJP

The BJP in Punjab said today that clashes in Phagwara were the result of a "political conspiracy" to polarise voters ahead of the 2019 general elections and demanded that a special investigation team be formed to probe the matter.

Six days after the clashes left four people injured, a BJP delegation led by state unit chief and MP Shwait Malik met Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore and sought constitution of an SIT to "identify the conspirators and inciters".

A "political conspiracy" was hatched to "incite caste-based clashes to polarize voters" ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the party alleged in a memorandum.

It also sought a directive to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to call an all-party meeting to discuss joint initiatives for ensuring peace in the area.

Talking to the media, Malik termed the Phagwara clash a "conspiracy".

"There is a conspiracy. We have a BJP MLA in Phagwara... Therefore, it is politically motivated," he alleged.

The BJP state chief said the central government had been taking steps to uplift Dalits.

Malik was asked whether the BJP supported Dalit activists who wanted to rename a roundabout in Phagwara -- apparently the reason behind the clashes.

When he was told that the Shiromani Akali Dal blamed Shiv Sena leaders for instigating attacks on Dalits, Malik said the BJP could not answer for the Sena.

"They are a separate organistaion... Do not link our party with the Shiv Sena," he said.

In the memorandum, the BJP said the police investigation into the Phagwara clashes was limited only to the incidents of violence.

"They are not probing the angle of political conspiracy. ... political conspiracy to incite caste/section-based clashes to polarize voters for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections," the memorandum read.