The Congress and the BJP in Madhya Pradesh hit out at each other after a 24-year-old Dalit man was set on fire in Sagar district on Tuesday.
Dhanprasad Ahirwar was doused in kerosene and set on fire by his neighbours Chhuttu, Ajju Pathan, Kallu and Irfan, and is battling for life in Bhopal's Hamidia Hospital with over 70 per cent burns, Motinagar police station in charge Sangita Singh said on Saturday.
Mr Ahirwar had filed a police complaint over a dispute and the accused were forcing him to take it back, Mr Singh said, adding that Chhuttu, Ajju Pathan, Kallu and Irfan had been arrested.
Leader of Opposition in the MP Assembly Gopal Bhargava visited Ahirwar in Hamidia Hospital and claimed crimes against Dalits were increasing under the Kamal Nath government.
State BJP president Rakesh Singh said Mr Ahirwar had told police three times that his life was in danger but he got no help from the authorities.
He said the police did not act on Mr Ahirwar's apprehensions because of the Congress-led government's vote-bank politics and policy of appeasement.
"Though 15-20 people set Ahirwar on fire, only four have been arrested. This is because of appeasement," he added.
The MP Congress, meanwhile, hit out at the BJP and said it was giving a communal colour to every issue. "The BJP needs to change its perception of seeing communal politics in every issue. This is a criminal case and the police have arrested the accused immediately," MP Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said.
6 Killed As Bus Collides With Truck In Madhya Pradesh Ban Call For Madhya Pradesh Temple Laddoo Over "Different" Taste, Smell Madhya Pradesh Cops Use Night-Vision Drone To Catch Rape Accused In Jungle "Nowhere In Iran...": Netanyahu Issues Big Warning To "Ayatollah's Regime" Woman Cop, Disguised As Tourist, Takes Late Night Stroll. Then This Happens Delhi Cop Dies On Duty After Car Drags His Bike On Road For 10 Metres IIT Delhi Launches Research Communications Award For PhD Scholars "Can feel the power of this place": US Ambassador Visits Jagannath Temple US Couple Accused Of Trying To Sell Their Baby For $1,000 And Beer Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.