NCP leader Jitendra Awhad receives threats from Lawrence Bishnoi gang

Mumbai: Jitendra Awhad, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) affiliated with Sharad Pawar, has reportedly received threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang on Monday.

Awhad, when questioned about the threat call, declined to provide details. "All these things go on, received many threat calls like this. I won't comment on that," Awhad told news agency ANI.

Awhad is said to have received a threatening call from a person named Rohit Godara based in Australia. The gang allegedly demanded a significant sum of money from the NCP (SP) leader.

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks on minority communities, Awhad expressed his disapproval, highlighting the diversity of religions in India.

"Such a statement does not suit the Prime Minister of the country. There are Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists, and several other religions. If the Prime Minister of this country targets only one religion, he degrades the dignity of his position. This is the pressure of the first phase of elections," Awhad commented.

During an election rally, PM Modi criticized the Congress party, accusing it of adopting Maoist ideologies and urban Naxal beliefs. He further criticized the party's manifesto, pointing to its proposal for a survey of individual property and assets.

"Our tribal families have silver, that will be evaluated,...how much property government employees have, money, job that will be probed. Not only this, they have said that the gold that the sisters have, and other property, that will be distributed equally. Is it acceptable to you? Does the government have a right to snatch your property? Does the government have the right to take the wealth built by you with your hard work?" PM Modi questioned.

PM Modi emphasized the sentimental value of gold ornaments worn by Indian women, stating, "Their Mangalsutra, the question is not of the cost of gold in it, it is linked to her dreams of her life. You are talking of snatching it in your manifesto...will distribute gold and redistribute."

PM Modi referred to a statement made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006 regarding resource allocation to minorities.

"We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources," Dr Manmohan Singh had said.

Jairam Ramesh of the Congress party advocated for a comprehensive socio-economic Caste Census combined with a survey of national assets and governance systems.

"This survey of caste groups, national assets, and representation in governance systems - collectively called a comprehensive socio-economic Caste Census - is the only solution to ensure an India with equal opportunity for all. Equal opportunity is the objective," Ramesh stated in a post on X.