Udaipur murder: Politics simmers; Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot 'passes baton' to PM Modi; BJP hits back

Udaipur: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot's reaction over the gruesome 'hate crime' in Udaipur invited harsh condemnation from the opposition leaders. Two Muslim men beheaded a Hindu man in Udaipur's Maldas street area in broad daylight on Tuesday. The killers made a video of the killing and shared it on social media along with a confession and threats to PM Modi. Ashok Gehlot condemned the act and passed the baton to PM Modi saying he should 'address the nation in such sensitive times.'

"It's a sad & shameful incident. There's tense atmosphere in the nation today. Why don't PM & Amit Shah ji address the nation? There is tension among people. PM should address the public&say that such violence won't be tolerated & appeal for peace," Ashok Gehlot said.

BJP National spokesperson Tajindar Singh Bagga hit out at Ashok Gehlot saying 'if PM and HM are responsible for everything happening in his state, he should resign and sit in home.' "Looser CM after failed to implement law and law and order in his own state blaming PM and HM for everything. If PM and HM are responsible for everything happening in his state, he should resign and sit in home," Bagga tweeted.

BJP leader Shehzad also slammed the Rajasthan CM for doing 'appeasement politics' in the state. "The only reason why Kanhaiya Lal was killed ISIS style was due to the open appeasement politics of Congress govt But Gehlot govt stands with radicals even now & plays apologist! Riot after riot..Gehlot government went soft on Danga accused..be it Karauli..Chabra riots," he wrote in a tweet.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also advised that it was high time the Rajasthan CM leave 'politics of appeasement and take care of the law and order.'

"It is highly condemnable that heinous crimes happen every day in a peaceful state like Rajasthan. It is the result of the completely broken law and order that the criminals have released their video after carrying out the heart-wrenching incident that took place in Udaipur today. Gehlot ji, leave the politics of appeasement and take care of the law and order," Meghwal wrote in a tweet.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also spoke on the incident in Rajasthan and demanded that the state government take strict action against the perpetrators. "I condemn the gruesome murder in Udaipur Rajasthan. There can be no justification for it. Our party’s consistent stand is to oppose such violence. No one can take law in their own hands. We demand that the state govt takes strictest possible action. Rule of law must be upheld," the AIMIM cief tweeted.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi expressed 'shock' over the incident and said 'brutalism in the name of religion cannot be tolerated.'

"I am deeply shocked by the heinous murder in Udaipur. Brutalism in the name of religion cannot be tolerated. Those who spread terror due to this cruelty should be punished immediately. We all have to defeat hate together. I appeal to all, please maintain peace and brotherhood," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

BJP leader Vasundhara Raje condemned the incident saying that 'communal frenzy and violence has arisen in the state.'

"The brutal murder of an innocent youth in broad daylight has become clear that due to the instigation of the state government, the criminals are in high spirits and a situation of communal frenzy and violence has arisen in the state. The criminals are so ignorant that they have given violent statements about the Prime Minister," Vasundhara Raje tweeted.

"All the criminals involved in the incident should be immediately arrested and punished severely. Those who are behind this incident, the state government should also expose and arrest them," she added.

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra noted that the District Administration has been directed to take strict action against the culprits. "The Udaipur incident is unfortunate. Governor Kalraj Mishra appeals to the public to maintain peace & communal harmony. The District Administration has been directed to take strict action against the culprits," a statement by the governor said.

It is being said that the pre-meditated murder of the Hindu tailor was in retaliation to a social media post made by him in support of the suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma over her Prophet remarks. Protests erupted in the city after the video of the gruesome murder went viral on social media.

Internet services were suspended in Udaipur today in view of the tensions amid the killing. ADG Law & Order Hawa Singh Ghumeria noted that a high alert was issued in the state. "A statewide alert has been issued to all SPs & IGs to increase the mobility of forces and to maintain officers on the ground. We're assessing the law and order situation to take further decisions. Two ADGPs from Jaipur, one more SP and 600 additional police force have been sent to Udaipur. The culprits will not be spared," the ADG (L&O), Rajsthan said.