The murder of social activist Shehla Masood tops the list of these incidents. Shehla Masood, 37 was found dead in her car outside her residence in an upmarket locality of Bhopal on Aug 16. A single bullet had punctured her windpipe.

Soon, thereafter, many tales of Masood’s intimate relationship with several party bigwigs got afloat. Among those whose names figured prominently was Tarun Vijay, Rajya Sabha member and national spokesperson of the BJP. Tarun Vijay himself admitted that he was on ‘friendly terms” with Shehla. The lady was also running an event-management company called ‘Miracles’. Her services were utilised for organising several functions in New Delhi, J & K and Kolkata by Tarun Vijay. The duo visited Kashmir together more than once in connection with a programme on the Kashmir problem organised in New Delhi. Besides Tarun Vijay, Shehla Masood enjoyed the proximity of other BJP leaders as well. This fact was admitted by Dhruv Narain Singh, a legislator from Bhopal, who was also the chairperson of the MP Tourism development Corporation. After her death, Dhruv Narain informed media that Shehla wanted to join the BJP and was in touch with him in that connection.

Several rather inconvenient questions are being raised about Tarun Vijay’s relations with Shehla. To begin with, Tarun Vijay did not hail from MP but yet he came in contact with Shehla. As for event management, scores of better and well-known ‘Event management’ companies operate from New Delhi. Then why did Tarun Vijay choose Shehla’s little-known outfit?

The state government has handed over the probe into Shehla’s murder to the CBI. The CBI has decided to quiz Tarun Vijay. If found necessary, the CBI may also subject Tarun Vijay to Narco test. On his part, Tarun Vijay has offered to co-operate in the investigation. There is another angle related to the murder. Shehla was using the Right to Information (RTI) Act extensively. She had filed hundreds of RTI applications seeking information about some top officers and other vested interests. It is learnt that Shehla used to ask inconvenient questions at the behest of certain BJP leaders. It appears that some BJP leaders were using her enthusiasm to settle scores with their party rivals. In this context much significance is being attached to the information given by Shehla’s father to an important political leader, when he called on the family to convey his condolences. Shehla’s father disclosed that one day, when he was visiting the Parliament with Shehla; they came across Anil Dave, BJP Rajya Sabha member from MP. On seeing Dave, Shehla told her father that “He is my enemy number one”. Shehla’s murder has clearly given rise to inconvenient questions about some BJP leaders.

Even as Shehla’s murder was getting prime coverage in the media, the MP BJP plunged into another crisis. Of those whose arrest was ordered in the vote-for-note scandal, two belong to MP. Faggan Singh Kulaste, a tribal leader and a former minister has already been arrested. Faggan Singh Kulaste is a very prominent tribal leader of the state BJP. His importance in the party set-up is evident by the fact that he is the national chief of the BJP’s tribal morcha. He represented the tribal-dominated Mandla district in the last Lok Sabha.

Ashok Argal, BJP MP from the Bhind constituency has also been declared guilty though he is yet to be arrested. He was among the three BJP MPs who displayed currency notes in the Lok Sabha as a proof of the alleged bribe given by the UPA-I to MPs.

The arrest of Kulaste and the impending arrest of Argal have embarrassed the BJP to no end. In keeping with the maxim, attack is the best form of defense; the BJP has launched an agitation in the tribal belt of the state, protesting against Kulaste’s arrest. The BJP feels that action has been taken against Kulaste to malign the party.

Yet another revelation, which has dented the BJP’s image, is that the CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan and other ministers furnished false information on oath while purchasing residential houses in Bhopal. The houses, built by the MP Housing Board in the heart of the city, were to be sold only to those who do not own houses in their or in their spouses’ name anywhere in the State. The powers that be also ensured that 20 per cent of the houses built by the Housing Board are reserved for MPs and MLAs of the state.

According to information obtained through RTI, almost all the Ministers who purchased houses, owned houses in one or the other town in the state. What is interesting is that the Ministers gave different information in their affidavits submitted to the Housing Board and to the Election Commission along with their nomination papers. To quote just one instance, the Chief Minister himself owns a house in his name in Vidisha town while his wife is the owner of a flat in Bhopal. But while purchasing a house built by the Housing Board, he forgot to give this information to the Board. The same was done by Finance minister Raghavji. Home minister Uma Shankar Gupta, Animal Husbandary minister Ajay Vishnoi, Water resources minister Jayant Malaiya and Minister of state for Home Narayan Singh Kushwaha. The list also includes members of Parliament and Assembly, who gave false information in affidavits. Interestingly, Sandeep Dixit, MP from Delhi and son of Delhi chief minister Shiela Dixit also got a house though the Housing Board rules don’t permit allotment of houses to non-residents of MP.

A writ petition has been filed by former DG of Police of MP Arun Gurtoo, drawing the attention of the State HC towards the blatant violation of rules by the Chief Minister, ministers, MPs and MLAs.

Rules provide for a maximum punishment of imprisonment up to 7 years for the violators of the rules of the Housing Board. The HC is slated to take up the case within this week. Whatever may be the fate of the writ petition, the common man is aghast that his leaders are openly violating the rules framed by them. (IPA)