New Delhi:
Trouble seems to be mounting for the Ashok Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan. Two weeks after nine people were killed in alleged police firing in Bharatpur during violent clashes between two communities, the National Minorities Commission (NCM) has found the administration responsible for the incident.
Initial findings of the report by the minority panel suggest the "use of excessive force by police". The Commission, in a clear indictment, also said that the local administration and the police failed to act on time during the violence.
Speaking to NDTV, Wajahat Habibullah, Chairperson of NCM, said, "There has been a failure of the administration...could have acted earlier to prevent the clashes. It was also possible for the police to have acted with greater discretion."
(Watch) The Commission has sent its report to the Chief Minister's office.
"We will discuss the matter with him and see how we can resolve this dispute between the Meo Muslims and the Gujjar community," Mr Habibullah told reporters.
The two communities clashed on September 14 in the Gopalgarh area of the district, resulting in the death of nine and injuring 21. According to police, incorrect entry of a land meant for digging a pond as a graveyard in government records by a local patwari was the cause of the clash.
The administration maintains that the police resorted to firing to disperse the warring groups.
Hence, the minority panel's report has come as a major blow to the Gehlot government. What's worse, the Chief Minister isn't finding any support from within his own party what with a fact-finding team appointed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi also mentioning about "police excesses" in its report.
Human rights organisations, too, have questioned why all casualties were from one particular group - in this case, the Meo Muslims.
This could have a huge bearing on the Congress' political fortunes as the Meos constitute a crucial votebank for the party in a state which borders Uttar Pradesh that, incidentally, is slated for polls next year.
After the party's internal report, a concerned Mrs Gandhi met the Chief Minister and reportedly asked him to take urgent and harsh steps to contain the crisis.