Alleging that the deadly blast in Jhabua occurred as a local BJP leader was allowed to store explosives in the busy area, the Congress on Sunday came down heavily on Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for “complete abuse and misuse of power”.
“We have no words strong enough to express our anger, frustration and deep sadness over around 100 deaths in Jhabua. This has very serious ramifications. ...How did it happen? The district head of BJP’s Vyapar Mandal [traders’ body] is running an explosives factory in the heart of the busy town. Would he be allowed to do so by the local authorities if he had not been a BJP leader?,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said it was a case of criminal negligence and Mr. Chouhan’s actions will be a test of his governance.
“Will Shivraj Chauhan wake up and order registration of case of murder by negligence and judicial inquiry by a sitting High court judge or protect the suspect because he is reportedly an office bearer of BJP? Therein lies the test of governance,” he tweeted.
Complaints ignored, say residents
According to local residents, they complained a number of times to the administration about the storage of explosives in a godown in the area and were ignored.
One of the complainants told the media that it was even brought to the notice of the then District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Borkar.
Manhunt on to nab accused
The State police has booked Rajendra Kasawa and a manhunt to arrest him is on for storing a huge pile of explosives in the building which triggered off the explosion.
“We have booked Rajendra Kasawa under IPC section 304 (man slaughter or punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and section 3 (punishment for causing explosion likely to endanger life and property and section 4 (punishment for attempt to cause explosion, or for making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life and property) of Explosive Substances Act yesterday,” Petlawad Sub-Divisional Officer of Police A.R. Khan told PTI .
