BJP, RSS workers observe ‘black day’ on Gandhi Jayanti in MP’s Chhatarpur, booked by police

Madhya Pradesh Police on Friday evening booked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers for observing Mahatma Gandhi’s 151th birth anniversary in Chhatarpur district as a ‘black day’.

The Chhatarpur police registered an FIR against one Rajesh Agrawal and five others under section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the IPC after a Congress leader lodged a complaint.

According to the complainant Abhilekh Khare, Rajesh Agrawal, a social worker, Prashant Mehto, an RSS worker and president of right-wing front Bhagva Brigade and Pankaj Pipariya, a Chhatarpur BJP worker from Nowgaon panchayat, observed a ‘black day’, sitting at the city’s busiest Chatrasal Square on Friday evening.

In the photos of the event, the trio can be seen holding multiple banners. One of the banners, which bears the date of birth of Gandhi, October 2, 1869, says, “2 October Kala Diwas. Hindu Hindustan ka, kala diwas, kala diwas, kala diwas.” In another banner which has the photos of

Gandhi and Sardar Patel, the first deputy Prime Minister of India, they alleged that Gandhi was a ‘supporter of Muslims’ & Gajwa-e-Hind and ‘killer of Hindus’.

In addition to that, talking to the media after the event, Prashant Mehto said, “Gandhi was a supporter of Gajwa-e-hind. He supported the killing of Hindus by Muslims. Gandhi always attacked the Hindu sentiments. How could such a person be father of the nation?” he said, adding that “Godse did the right thing by killing him”.

When contacted over the phone, Prashant Mehtro proudly agreed that he observed the ‘black day’ event and also confirmed his association with the RSS and voluntarily working for the BJP.

Dr. Agrawal and the BJP worker Pankaj Pipariya also ranted against Gandhi at the event and later uploaded the photos and videos of the same on social media platforms.

“Gandhi is the biggest traitor and never supported Hindus. Hence, on his birth anniversary we observed ‘black day’,” said Dr. Agrawal on phone. He is also the convenor of Bhagva Brigade.

Based on the Congress complaint, the police registered an FIR which says they tried to create enmity between communities and defamed Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary.

Chhatarpur BJP chief Malkham Singh also confirmed their association with the BJP and the RSS. Several photos of the accused with BJP state president VD Sharma, former Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari are also

found on his social media account. Mehto is seen donning RSS’ uniform on his social media account.

Condemning the event, Chhatarpur Congress president, Manoj Trivedi said, “On one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Gandhi on his birth anniversary and on other hand, his party workers and RSS workers puke venom against Gandhi. This is the height of hypocrisy.”

He further said that they are constantly trying to tarnish the image of Gandhi by defaming him and branding his killer Nathuram Godse as a hero.

“Last year, some unidentified people stole the mortal remains of Gandhi and wrote “anti-national” on his poster in MP’s Rewa district on October 2. A year has gone by since the Congress reported the matter, but nothing has happened so far,” he said.

Similarly, an alleged ABVP worker replaced Gandhi’s photo with that of Godse on a Rs 10 bank note on Godse’s birth anniversary on May 19, this year.

When contacted, Chhatarpur BJP Chief Malkham Singh said that he totally condemned the observation of ‘black day’ on Gandhi’s birth anniversary and participation of a party worker in the event.

“Gandhi is our ideal. I totally condemn the event. Pankaj Pipariya is a BJP worker from Nowgaon and the party may take disciplinary action against him for his participation in the event,” said Malkham Singh.

SP Chhatarpur Sachin Sharma said, “FIR has been registered against 5-6 people under section 153-A of the IPC and a probe is on.”