Ashok Gehlot Criticizes Government Following Death of Former MLA Ater Singh Bhardana

Jaipur, October 12: Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has criticized the state government following the death of former MLA Ater Singh Bhardana in Bharatpur. In a post on social media, he described the incident as evidence of the deteriorating law and order situation in Rajasthan, attributing it to the failures of the police and administration.

Gehlot’s post was made at 11:11 AM, nearly 11 hours after Bhardana’s death was confirmed. He emphasized that this incident occurred in the Chief Minister’s home district of Bharatpur.

In his statement, Gehlot remarked, “The murder of former BJP MLA Ater Singh Bhardana in Bharatpur, the Chief Minister’s home district, is clear evidence of the complete breakdown of law and order in Rajasthan. When a former MLA can be attacked by 70 to 80 people in broad daylight, how can the common citizen expect protection in this state?”

Reports indicate that the conflict surrounding this incident has been ongoing for nearly two years. Gehlot questioned, “What has the police and administration been doing for the past two years? Why was there no action taken when the warning signs were clear? This murder is a result of police and administrative failure. How can a government that cannot protect its own former MLA assure safety to the public?”

Gehlot posed two direct questions to the administration. First, if the dispute regarding the crusher had been ongoing for two years, what actions were taken by the police and administration during that time? Second, why was there no preemptive action taken when the signs of conflict were evident?

He also stated, “In a government where its own former MLA is not safe, how can it assure safety to ordinary citizens?”

Bhardana’s Political Background

Gehlot identified Bhardana as a former BJP MLA. Bhardana was elected as an MLA from Bayana in 2003 on a BJP ticket. However, his political journey was not confined to one party. He was suspended from the BJP in 2007 for opposing the government’s stance during the Gurjar reservation movement. Subsequently, he joined the BSP and later the Congress.

In the 2008 assembly elections, he contested from the Bharatpur city seat on a Congress ticket but lost. This was his last electoral contest. Following this, he shifted his focus to the mining and crusher business.

Timeline of Events

– 2003: Elected as MLA from Bayana on a BJP ticket.
– 2007: Suspended from BJP for opposing the government during the Gurjar reservation movement.
– 2008: Joined BSP but was expelled within months.
– October 2008: Joined Congress.
– 2008: Contested from Bharatpur city on a Congress ticket and lost.
– Post-2008: Stepped away from electoral politics to focus on mining and crusher business.

Current Developments

The attack on Bhardana occurred on Sunday evening at his crusher plant near the town of Vair. According to police, mining operations were underway when 70 to 80 individuals arrived at the scene. Both Bhardana and his bodyguard, Gagan Sharma, sustained injuries during the attack.

Bhardana was referred to Jaipur, where his death was confirmed at 12:19 AM by Sawai Man Singh Hospital. Dr. Deepak Maheshwari, principal of SMS Medical College, stated that the cause of death was not due to gunshot wounds but rather injuries and blood loss. Bhardana’s wife, Kamlesh Bhardana, alleged that there was gunfire during the attack and that he was shot. The mining lease is allocated in Kamlesh Bhardana’s name, and there has been an ongoing dispute with residents of Bhonda and Raipur villages regarding the crusher’s access for nearly two years.

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Ganpat Singh Chouhan: My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.