Haryana polls: In Mewat mob lynching a political issue

Nuh (Haryana), Oct 14 (IANS) Mob lynching is an issue resonating across the political spectrum in Haryana's Muslim-dominated Mewat region.

Invoking Pehlu Khan and Junaid lynching cases, local politicians are milking the issue to convince voters not to vote for the BJP.

In the Congress rally all the MLA candidates said that BJP-backed candidates could not provide security.

The Congress candidate from Punhana, Mohd. Ilyas even showed shoes from the dias to indicate that BJP candidates should be pelted with shoes, getting huge applause from the crowd.

Similarly Congress candidate from Nuh also invoked the lynching issue.

Congress supporter Sabir Ali of Kothpura said "We don't expect development from BJP but the least we expect is to provide security."

The leaders invoked Mahatma Gandhi, saying "We have stayed in the country on the assurance of Mahatma Gandhi. We will not let Godse succeed and the country is ours too," said Aftab Ahmed, Congress candidate from Nuh.

The BJP candidate from Nuh Zakir is a sitting MLA from INLD and has switched to BJP.

Pehlu Khan was lynched in Rajasthan by an alleged cow vigilante group on suspicion of cow smuggling.

Junaid was also lynched in a train from Delhi to Palwal as a scuffle broke out over sharing seats and turned communal.

Mewat is a backward region of the state and so the candidates pitched for development. The literacy rate is also quite low.

Leaders promised a university in the region. They also said that if Congress is voted to power the irrigation project of the state will be completed.

Apart from lynching, Kotla Dam project and Mewat canal is also an issue in the region.

The Mewat region has four seats - Nuh, Punhana, Hatin and Ferozepur Jhirka.