Udaipur: Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan where the murder of a tailor in Udaipur has unleashed tension and unrest, today suggested that the Prime Minister should address the people immediately on the issue of communal violence that has spiked in the country following former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's comments on Prophet Mohammed.
"Communalism has increased in the country after Nupur Sharma's statement. Violence is happening. The Prime Minister should talk to the country and ask people to exercise restraint," Mr Gehlot told NDTV in an exclusive interview shortly after speaking to the family of Kanhaiya Lal, who was brutally murdered in an ISIS-style attack earlier this week.
The assailants, who filmed the attack, bragged about it and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi in another video, have been arrested. The police said they have links with Pakistani terror groups and were influenced by ISIS.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "spoken on the incident of lynching, so it has had an effect," Mr Gehlot said referring to the address in 2019 regarding the mob killing in Jharkhand.
PM Modi "should speak to every Chief Minister to take immediate action on communal incidents," he added.
"I will appeal to the people in the state and country to maintain peace… violence is not the solution," he added.
Kanhaiya Lal had received threats after expressing support on social media for Nupur Sharma, whose derogatory comments on Prophet Mohammed had set off huge controversy at home and abroad.
Police said one of the accused, Mohammad Riyas Ansari, was in contact with Pakistan-based terror groups. The other, Gulam Gaus had visited Karachi in 2014. Before killing Kanhaiya Lal, they had watched many ISIS videos and made multiple calls to Pakistan, sources said.
Today, hundreds held a protest march in Udaipur, during which stones were thrown at protesters.