Tribals, Dalits Subjected to Torture in Vijaypur Bypoll: MP Congress

Bhopal - The Madhya Pradesh Congress President, Jitu Patwari, accused the ruling BJP of misusing power during the recent Budhni and Vijaypur Assembly bypolls held on Wednesday. Patwari, speaking at a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Bhopal on Thursday, alleged that tribals and Dalits were subjected to torture and prevented from casting their votes in Vijaypur.

Patwari cited incidents of violence, including a shooting two days prior to the bypoll in Vijaypur, as evidence of a "mafia rule" in the state. He further accused the BJP of betraying youth, farmers, and women. Patwari questioned the BJP's claims of contesting the bypolls in the name of development, asking, "If the BJP was contesting the bypolls in the name of development, then why were polling booths captured?"

The Congress leader also alleged that the police and administration in Vijaypur were biased towards the BJP, citing reports of threats and inducements to voters. Patwari claimed that over 100 complaints were filed with the Election Commission regarding these issues, but the commission acted in favor of the BJP.

State BJP President V.D. Sharma refuted the allegations, calling them "false" and an attempt by the opposition to tarnish the state government's image due to their impending defeat in the bypolls. Sharma claimed that Congress-sponsored goons instigated the violence in Vijaypur and that Congress sensed its defeat in the bypolls, which is why they started pressure politics.

The Budhni and Vijaypur Assembly seats saw bypolls on Wednesday following the resignations of the sitting MLAs, Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Budhni) and R Rawat (Vijaypur). The results are expected to be announced on November 23.

(Source- IANS)