Bhopal, Nov 2 The Congress on Monday slammed the Madhya Pradesh government over law and order following the killing of a police officer by an illicit liquor truck in Dewas, alleging that the mafia was running the state.
The BJP, however, countered the charge, alleging that a local Congress leader close to the party’s state unit chief Jitu Patwari was linked to the liquor network involved in the incident.
Senior Congress leaders targeted Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who holds the Home portfolio, demanding a thorough probe into the smuggling syndicate involved in the death of Khategaon Station House Officer (SHO) Dilip Puri.
According to the police, Puri had gone to the Indore-Betul highway after receiving information about illicit liquor smuggling, and the truck had been parked near a roadside eatery close to the incident spot since Sunday night.
When Puri tried to question the truck driver, the man allegedly drove over the road divider to escape, and the vehicle’s rear wheel ran over the SHO, who was seriously injured and could not be saved, they said.
In a sharp post on X, former chief minister Kamal Nath condoled the incident, calling it “an open declaration of the murder of law and order in the state”.
He claimed that the state has now become synonymous with the liquor, drug, mining, land, and sand mafias.
“The mafia is now running the government in Madhya Pradesh, and the government is a mute spectator,” he alleged.
MP Congress president Jitu Patwari claimed that illegal liquor trade has been flourishing under government protection and Puri’s death had again raised serious questions about law and order and the safety of police personnel, and the working style of the state home minister.
“Mere statements and claims of action will not suffice! How will the public believe that your government is alive? Investigate the smuggling network impartially and take strict action against those responsible,” he wrote in a X post.
MP Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar questioned why the government is failing to curb the liquor mafia and who is protecting these rackets.
“The people of the state are losing their lives by drinking poisonous liquor, police officers are falling victim to liquor mafia trucks, and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is sitting silent. This is absolutely intolerable,” he said.
Meanwhile, state Minister Vishwas Sarang claimed that preliminary information about the incident shows a direct connection to Congress leaders.
Congress leader Rahul Jaiswal and his brother Manish Jaiswal are partners in the liquor shop linked to this case, and Bhupendra Rana, the manager of the establishment, had provided information to the police, he told reporters.
He alleged that Rahul Jaiswal was in charge of the Congress’s Khategaon assembly constituency and considered close to Patwari.
Sarang further referred to the alleged involvement of Aman Kasliwal, son of Congress spokesperson Anand Kasliwal, in the Dewas illegal liquor scandal.
“Is the income from the illegal liquor trade being used to pay the Congress state office’s electricity bills, party protests, and other expenses? The Congress leadership should answer these questions,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Deora said that strict action will be taken against those found guilty in this incident.
“Irrespective of the party, class, or family the accused belongs to, if they are found guilty, strict action will be taken against them,” he told reporters in Jabalpur.
(PTI News)
