Is Gujarat BJP turning into a haven for criminal offenders?

Since its inception around 45 years ago, the BJP has made major strides across the nation. Acting as its ideological laboratory, Gujarat has kept the BJP in power in the state for the past three decades. However, some members are now seeking protection from the party after committing grave offences.

Numerous allegations have recently surfaced, linking the party members to criminal offences. These include drug and alcohol trafficking, sexual assault, land grabbing, and embezzlement of government supplies. The frequency and severity of these instances have painted a troubling picture for the party.

Not less than eight such cases have surfaced in the past week alone, revealing the involvement of party members or workers.

Notably, those at the helm of affairs at 'Kamalam’, have chosen to play mute over these issues, raising concerns down the party lines.

There appears to be little scrutiny in the party over who joins the ranks, allowing land mafias, drug dealers, bootleggers, and unscrupulous contractors to infiltrate. Their party membership seemingly giving them protection from scrutiny too.

Recent events that paint a sorry picture for the party

In Ahmedabad, Prince Mistry, son of the party’s Baxipanch Yuva Morcha chief, promised people monthly payments of ₹33,000 for renting their cars for the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, only to defraud them by pawning their cars to others. The scam involved more than 400 cars and has raised serious concerns over a reluctant probe.

In Rajkot, the Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested the son of a BJP leader and his friend with ₹9.85 lakh worth of mephedrone (MD) drugs. They were reportedly supplying these drugs to college students.

Police raided the home of Parth, son of a BJP leader in Rajkot’s Jasdan, unravelling a drug operation he ran with a friend. Parth’s father is a retired teacher.

In Surat, BJP Yuva Morcha member and Hindu Yuva Vahini president Vikas Ahir was caught with MD drugs from a hotel. Ahir, who works in the constituency of Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi, has been previously booked for robbery, assault, rioting, and kidnapping.

Jayesh Bhavsar, former president of the BJP’s Asarwa ward in Ahmedabad, was arrested on July 25 for possessing a large quantity of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL).

BJP leaders Madhu Tadhani and Paresh Radadia in Rajkot face charges of raping a student.

In Surat, BJP Yuva Morcha general secretary Manish Shah was caught embezzling government grain supplies.

BJP officials Kaushik Kamani, Mukesh Togadia, and Bhupat Jadeja were accused of land grabbing near Rajkot.

A BJP leader in Godhra was implicated in the NEET paper leak scandal.