Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera has alleged that one of the main accused in the Udaipur murder of Kanhaiya Lal, Riyaz Attari is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
While speaking to reporters at party headquarters, Khera cited several social media posts and pictures that linked accused Riyaz Attari with BJP’s minority wing leaders – Irshad Chainwala, Mohammad Tahir, and former Rajasthan minister – Gulab Chand Kataria.
Khera also claimed that the BJP quickly transferred the case to National Investigative Agency (NIA) due to the killer being a member of the BJP.
He said, “The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gehlot, welcomed the transfer of this case to the NIA, but the question is being raised on the arrival of new facts whether the BJP government at the Union government has decided to hand over this incident to the NIA in a hurry for the same reasons?”
Through certain social media posts and photos posted by BJP leader Irshad Chainwala on Facebook on 30 November 2018, Mohammad Tahir on 3 February 2019, 27 October 2019, 10 August 2021, and 20 November 2019, Khera alleged that it is clear that Riyaz Attari is not only “close to BJP leaders” but was also an active BJP member.
Pawan Khera further said: “It has also come to the fore in the same disclosure that the main accused Riyaz Attari often participated in the programmes of Rajasthan BJP leader and former minister Gulabchand Kataria. Not only this, pictures of the main accused Riyaz Attari attending the meetings of the BJP’s Rajasthan minority unit are also in front of the world.”
He questioned the “silence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and asked, “are the BJP and its leaders trying to create an atmosphere of religious frenzy in the whole country?”
The spokesperson on Twitter said, “The killer of #KanhaiyaLal, #RiyazAttari is a member of the BJP. (Ref Facebook posts) #कन्हैयालाल का हत्यारा, आतंकी रियाज़ अटारी भाजपा का सदस्य है। (फ़ेस्बुक पोस्ट्स संलग्न) #Udaipur”
Other Congress leaders posted tweets along the same line.
Congress leader – Salman Nizami shared India Today report and tweeted, “So, BJP leader’s in Rajasthan had close links with Riyaz Attari. He had attended several party events, and is close aid of BJP’s minority morcha member Irshad chainwalla!”
Meanwhile, other social media users raised the same questions and connections.
Political activist and leader of Swaraj Abhiyan – Yogendra Yadav said, “If true, this evidence takes @IndiaToday story forward. So, Riyaz Attari was not just TRYING to get into BJP, he WAS a BJP karyakarta. Needs verification by Rajasthan Police and NIA. Thanks @_vkjha”
BJP declined the allegations
BJP declined any connections with the killer – Riyaz Attari, earlier today.
BJP’s IT Cell Chief – Amit Malviya, said, “I am not surprised that you (Congress) are peddling #FakeNews. The Udaipur murderers WERN’T members of the BJP. Their attempt to infiltrate was like the LTTE assassin’s attempt to enter the Congress to kill Rajiv Gandhi. Congress should stop fooling around with terror and national security.”
Moreover, in a press conference, Sadiq Khan – BJP’s minority wing leader, said, “We have no links to either of the accused.”
