Vyas blames Gehlot for Jodhpur violence
Pradeep Kaushal

Jaipur, DEC 28: Rajasthan Congress president Girija Vyas has held the administration and slain state Shiv Sena president Murlidhar Bohra responsible for the violence at Phalodi in Jodhpur district last week. She was speaking to mediapersons here last evening.

Vyas said the trouble started at Phalodi several hours before violent clashes erupted between the members of the two communities. Had the administration responded to the developments promptly and understood the gravity of the situation, the incident would not have taken such a serious turn, Vyas said. She said the findings of a Congress team showed that the Shiv Sena and the Sangh Parivar had given a communal turn to the cattle-trade. Vyas said though Bohra's killing was unfortunate, the fact remains that he was playing a key role in inciting people.

Probe team member Allauddin Azad said the traders had purchased the animals from a cattle fair held near Phalodi about 10 days ago and there was no violation of any law in transporting them. Anothermember of the team, Mahesh Joshi, said stopping the train, transporting the cattle, amounted to interference in government's working but no senior railway official visited the spot. He said the `released' animals were roaming around and the `self-professed protectors' of the cow were yet to come forward to take care of them.

Meanwhile, police sources disclosed here today that Siddiq, the key suspect in Bohra's murder, had been nabbed. He is from Hindalgol village and is a a history-sheeter.

Rattled by the BJP's criticism of his government for failing to protect the cattle from falling in the hands of the mafia supplying animals to slaughter houses in other states, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today vowed to take all steps to foil their designs.

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.