News Analysis India

Tag: Gulabchand Kataria

  • Photo of Udaipur accused with BJP leader goes viral, party denies connect

    By Express News Service

    JAIPUR: A major controversy has erupted after a picture of Udaipur murder accused Riyaz Attari with leader of the opposition Gulabchand Kataria went viral on social media.

    The picture is reportedly from a 2018 event. Also, an old post of a worker associated with BJP Minority Morcha surfaced in which he has described Riyaz as a BJP worker.

    On social media, the leaders of the BJP Minority Front had shared photos with Riyaz several times. Tahir shared a post in November 2019 and wrote for Riyaz, “Har Dil Aziz, our brother Riyaz Attari, a BJP worker was welcomed on his arrival in Udaipur from Umra’s Ziarat. May Allah accept all the prayers of Riyaz Attari Bhaijaan, Amen.”

    WATCH | Udaipur murder accused attacked by mob outside court, clothes ripped

    This post was put on Tahir’s Facebook account on 25 November 2019.  In this, Tahir and Chainwala and another BJP leader are seen garlanding Riyaz.  At the same time, in many posts related to Tahir, a Facebook account named Riyaz Attari has been mentioned.  But that account is no longer visible. In this regard, Irshad Chainwala said that he has no connection with Riyaz. Riyaz had returned from Mecca-Medina after performing Umrah.  Then he was welcomed with a garland. Chainwala claims he was introduced to Riyaz by Tahir.

    Photos of Riyaz have also surfaced with Udaipur BJP District President Ravindra Shrimali. However, Shrimali said that Riyaz has nothing to do with the party. “Riyaz is not a member of our party. If anyone can stand and take a picture in the crowd, then such a person cannot be linked to any party. All this is being done by the opposition party under a conspiracy. We are ready to be investigated by any agency,” he remarked.

    However, BJP in Rajasthan on Saturday denied the allegation and said that the Udaipur accused has never been a member of the party.

    M Sadiq Khan, Rajasthan BJP Minority Morcha state president said, “BJP is world’s largest party and hence anybody can come and click pictures with our leaders. But this doesn’t mean that he has been our party member. The accused has never been a member of our party. The state government due to its failure, wants to hold someone responsible. I request the Chief Minister to leave his post,” he said.

  • Facing backlash for his remarks on Maharana Pratap, Rajasthan BJP leader tenders apology

    By PTI
    UDAIPUR: Rajasthan’s Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria on Tuesday tendered an apology after his controversial remarks on famous warrior king Maharana Pratap triggered outrage among Rajputs in the state.

    Kataria tendered the apology saying his selection of words for the Mewar king famous was not right and he was sorry for that.

    “Our ancestors fought for 100 years. The most recent example is Maharana Pratap.

    “Had dogs been him that he left his kingdom and fort to wander in jungles? Who had he done it for?” Kataria had asked in Hindi while addressing a public gathering in the Rajsamand constituency on Sunday.

    The remarks outraged the people from the community with Udaipur’s royal family scion Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar asking “how can the dignity of language be forgotten for Maharana Pratap whose name is synonymous with the valour and struggle”.

    In a message on his Facebook page, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, also a descendant of Maharana Pratap, also said “the sense of choosing words should not be lost”.

    Known for his valour, Maharana Pratap (1540-1597) was the king of Mewar, the present-day Udaipur region.

    Kataria was also criticised and targeted on social media.

    Reacting sharply to the comment, Rajput youths defaced Kataria’s posters outside the BJP headquarters in Jaipur here with ink and protested against him.

    They demanded from the BJP to sack him from the post of leader of the opposition.

    After the escalation of backlash, Kataria tendered an apology.

    Also saying that he felt sorry for hurting the sentiments of people.

    He released a video saying his sentiment for Maharana Pratap was not wrong but he used wrong words.

    “I respect Maharana Pratap. If anyone is hurt by my statement, I apologise,” he said.