• Dr. Archana Sharma

People of every society and all the religions in Rajasthan have been celebrating all the festivals with love, harmony and mutual brotherhood. This has been the culture and tradition of the state. For the last three years, Shri Ashok Gehlot’s government has taken many steps for the betterment of the people, development of the state and public welfare. Due to this, the government had been quite popular and the Congress got the expected success in the by-elections of the Legislative Assembly. Whereas, the BJP faltered badly in these elections with security of one of their candidates getting forfeited and the other candidate standing third at one seat in the elections.

In February 2022, Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot presented the historic public welfare budget of the state, which was praised by every citizen of Rajasthan. Italsoattracteda large number of fans for the Congress government. The State leadership and the Central leadership of the BJP were disappointed and frustrated due to such praise happening all around and the public’s positive attitude towards the Congress government. As a result of this, such a type of conspiracy was hatched to spoil the state’s environment so that the Congress government of the state could be defamed, the good works of the government and the failures of the Centre could not be discussed and an atmosphere of religious frenzy and communal separation could be created in the state.

The National President of BJP visited Sawai Madhopur and before and during this visit, an outline was drawn on how to create a divisive, dangerous environment for the society by creating religious hysteria in the state. As soon as he left, an attempt was made to organize riots in Karauli, after which it was repeated in a planned manner in Alwar, Jodhpur and Bhilwara and these incidents were spread across the country by the workers of BJP and its allied organizations on social media. The media working on the behest of the BJPadded fuel to this fire.

The Ashok Gehlot government, taking cognizance of the incidents at all these places with promptness and speed, brought them under control immediately, anti-social elements were immediately arrested, strict and all necessary steps were taken to maintain peace, law and order. As a result, the incidents at all the four places could not take the form of major riots. Whereas BJP continued to work to give air to them. Their leaders kept on trying to visit Karauli lest the atmosphere there calms down.

In Alwar, at the orders of the BJP-ruled Municipal Board, the temple was demolished during the widening of the roads and instead of apologizing, the BJP leaders have been continuously working to incite religious hysteria by rendering it communal hues. On May 5, an attempt was made to disturb the peace system by gathering workers from all over the state in Alwar, but the promptness of the governmentled to their failure to do the same.

The BJP is trying to gain political mileage by disturbing Rajasthan in view of the elections in the neighbouring state of Gujarat.

It is wellknown that due to the policies of the Modi government, the situation of the country on the economic front is bad. Inflation and unemployment are at their peak and youth are becoming directionless. BJP is conspiring to divert the attention of the public from all these burning issues and to take political advantage by resorting to religious polarization, which is very unfortunate as well as is a big threat to the future of the country.

In Rajasthan, Congress is in a stronger position. The Congress has given a befitting reply to BJP’s own moves by defeating the BJP’s attempt to topple the government. Pradesh BJP is panicked concerning leadership. Therefore, to cover up its weakness and to create instability in the state, such tactics are being adopted by the BJP.

The BJP, which calls for nationalism, is hell-bent on disturbing the cordial fabric of the state, which clearly shows that for the BJP, self-politics is paramount, not nationalism. People will have to understand their intentions and expose BJP.

(The author is the Chairperson of Rajasthan State Social Welfare Board)