The political ramifications of the horrific murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur have posed a major challenge to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot ahead of the 2023 Assembly election. The ruling Congress seems to be in a predicament while trying to control the law and order situation in the aftermath of the June 28 incident.
A sharp increase in religious polarisation, witnessed during the protests against the killing in several towns across the State, is going to affect political prospects of Congress. The Opposition BJP’s accusation of the Congress following an “appeasement policy” towards Muslims is likely to gain wide currency despite the party’s efforts to rebut it.
The differences between the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the State’s investigating agencies during the initial probe of the crime may create more difficulties for the State government. While the State police was quick to assert that the two accused, who slit the throat of Kanhaiya Lal, had links with Pakistan’s Dawat-e-Islami, the NIA cautioned against drawing any hasty conclusions.
