- Congress says it’s an assault on democracy
Bhopal: In a press conference at the Madhya Pradesh Congress headquarters, former minister Jai Vardhan Singh strongly condemned the FIR lodged against State Congress President Jitu Patwari, calling it “a murder of democracy.”
Patwari was booked under FIR No. 0233/2025 at Mungaoli Police Station after he shared a video on social media highlighting the plight of a local man, Gajraj Lodhi, who was allegedly denied justice and attempted self-immolation in protest. The FIR was registered suo motu by the Station In-Charge, Jogendra Yadav — a move the Congress claims was done under political pressure.
Congress argues the charges are baseless:
* The allegation involving forced consumption of human waste had already been made public on June 10, with the incident widely covered in local and state media. The claim that Patwari “influenced” the victim is false.
* In the video, Patwari clearly states that the issue is personal, not communal. The 8-minute, 36-second clip contains no content capable of disturbing social harmony.
* Videos showing the victim frequently changing his statements further weaken the case against Patwari.
* Meanwhile, the accused in the assault case was merely booked under Section 151 — raising questions about police intentions.
Congress alleges that the FIR is a political ploy to suppress dissent and shield administrative failures. “This isn’t coincidence — it’s a conspiracy,” Singh said, adding that filing false FIRs against opposition leaders for standing with the poor is nothing short of democracy’s betrayal.
