In the aftermath of the shocking murder of Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi at his Jaipur residence on December 5, Rajasthan finds itself embroiled in a political storm. Just two days after the Congress suffered defeat to the BJP in the state assembly election, the incident has triggered a heated exchange between the two major political parties.
Amidst the turmoil, the Karni Sena called for a statewide bandh on Wednesday to protest Gogamedi’s murder, while the BJP alleged that the Congress orchestrated the crime in retaliation for losing the state. Shehzad Poonawala, the national spokesperson for the BJP, shared a video where Gogamedi revealed that the police had alerted Congress CM Ashok Gehlot about the security threat against him.
The chilling incident, captured on a CCTV camera, shows three assailants on motorcycles firing shots at Gogamedi’s residence. During the confrontation, one of Gogamedi’s security guards was injured, and in the crossfire, one attacker lost his life. Initial reports suggested that Gogamedi’s security team had shot the assailant before he was killed by his accomplices.
According to the Rajasthan Police, the murder was carried out by the Rohit Godara gang, closely associated with the Goldie Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi gangs. Gogamedi, in a statement after the election results on December 3, claimed that Congress lost due to neglecting the Karni Sena.
The aftermath of the tragedy saw widespread condemnation from political leaders across party lines. Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, and Rajyavardhan Rathore, among others, expressed their grief. However, as the BJP assumed power, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate criticized the situation as a return to ‘jungle raj.’ Despite the BJP not announcing a chief ministerial candidate, the Congress still holds control over the state’s caretaker government.
On December 3, Shehzad Poonawala raised concerns about Congress planning revenge against Rajasthan, alleging the creation of fake stories and involvement of mafia and anti-social elements. The BJP leader remarked on the situation, emphasizing that, technically, it is still a Congress government, but they seem to be operating in full revenge mode following Gogamedi’s tragic demise.
