BJP candidate Payal Kukrani is the daughter of Manoj Kukrani, convicted in Naroda Patiya bloodbath
Ahmedabad:
Ruling BJP in Gujarat has raked up fairly an argument by fielding Naroda Patiya bloodbath case convict’s daughter Payal Kukrani from the Naroda seat within the forthcoming Meeting elections. Now NDTV has discovered that the life-term convict, Manoj Kukrani, helps his daughter handle her election marketing campaign. Manoj was out on non permanent bail a number of instances till 2016, when he obtained common bail.
Earlier, BJP discovered itself within the eye of a storm by fielding Chandrasinh Raulji from the Godhra constituency. Raulji had referred to the convicts within the Bilkis Bano case as “Sanskari Brahmins” and was a part of a Gujarat authorities committee that had granted remission to the convicts serving life phrases.
Payal, an anaesthetist by occupation with no political expertise, has changed Balram Thawani, the sitting BJP MLA from Naroda, because the celebration’s candidate. Opposition events allege that that is additional proof that she was picked by the BJP purely to reward riot convicts.
Manoj was warmly greeted by Mr Thawani and BJP celebration employees throughout campaigning.
There was no response from the BJP when NDTV reached out for feedback.
Many have discovered it surprising that BJP has fielded Payal from the exact same constituency the place the Naroda Patiya bloodbath occurred. Her father was one in every of 32 folks convicted in 2012 on prices of being a part of a mob that killed 97 folks in Naroda throughout the 2002 Gujarat riots.
In keeping with his neighbours, Manoj has principally been out of jail on interim bail ever since his conviction.
When requested about her father’s function in her marketing campaign, Payal mentioned her household has challenged his father’s conviction in courtroom.
“My father has been an skilled politician. I do not need to touch upon my father’s conviction as a result of we now have appealed in opposition to it within the Supreme Court docket. We’re nonetheless preventing it, however all I can let you know is that my father, mom and all BJP leaders are serving to me in my election marketing campaign and we’ll win on the problem of improvement,” Payal mentioned.
Different members of the family additionally mentioned Manoj did not do something improper. Manoj’s brother, Dr Puroshottam Harvani, mentioned: “Manoj obtained convicted for no fault of his. He was simply there. He did not do something improper. His title was dragged into it, that is why he is struggling.”
Referring to the Naroda Patya bloodbath, he added: “Public would not care in regards to the age-old incident; public cares about Modi ji and his improvement.”
Taking a swipe on the BJP over its alternative of candidate, Omprakash, the Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP) candidate from Naroda, mentioned: “BJP will need to have thought that Manoj Kukrani had contributed for the celebration by instigating the Naroda Patiya bloodbath and he supplied an enormous sacrifice by going to jail for it. So, a reward have to be given to him. That is why his spouse is a BJP corporator and his daughter Payal, who has by no means been in politics, is now a candidate for MLA.”
In 2018, Gujarat Excessive Court docket upheld the conviction of 12 individuals, together with Manoj Kukrani and Bajrang Dal chief Babu Bajrangi, within the 2002 Naroda Patiya bloodbath case.
Manoj appealed in opposition to the excessive Court docket order within the Supreme Court docket. His enchantment trial remains to be pending, owing to which, he continues to be out on bail.