Jaipur, June 27 (IANS): Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, questioning the delay in the trial of the Kanhaiya Lal murder case and accusing the ruling party of using the incident for ‘political gain’ while failing to ensure speedy justice for the aggrieved family.

In a post on X, Gehlot said it has been nearly four years since the brutal murder of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal, but justice still remains elusive for the family despite the BJP being in power both at Centre and in the state.

“It has been nearly four years since Kanhaiya Lal ji’s brutal murder, yet the hope for justice remains unfulfilled under the BJP’s double-engine government. This appears to be not merely negligence but a calculated conspiracy,” Gehlot alleged.

The senior Congress leader though pointed that the case was being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and being heard by a special NIA court.

He questioned why the trial progressed so slowly despite both the Central and state governments being under BJP rule.

According to Gehlot, statements of only 21 out of 180 witnesses have been recorded so far, raising serious concerns over the pace of the trial. Targeting the BJP, Gehlot alleged that the party had used Kanhaiya Lal murder case as an election issue but failed to ensure justice for the victim’s family.

“The BJP spread the ‘Rs 5 lakh versus Rs 50 lakh’ narrative to win elections, but never intended to deliver justice,” he claimed.

Gehlot also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over silence on the issue, alleging that although they continue to visit Rajasthan, they no longer mention Kanhaiya Lal or speak about bringing the accused to justice.

“After deriving political benefit from the issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah now visit Rajasthan without even mentioning Kanhaiya Lal ji’s name, let alone discussing punishment for the accused,” he said.

Gehlot, further appealing to the people of Rajasthan, stated that the BJP merely “played with the emotions of the public” and urged them to recognise what he described as the party’s “true face.”

The BJP was yet to respond to Gehlot’s remarks.

–IANS

arc/mr