BHOPAL: Chief minister Kamal Nath and his predecessor Shivraj Singh Chouhan were locked in a war of words on Friday over the murder of a BJP leader in Mandsaur Nath said there should be no politics over the killing of any person, “especially when it turns out to be an internal matter of a party”. This was in response to a letter from Chouhan, expressing concern over the back-to-back shootings of a businessman in Indore and Mandsaur BJP leader Prahlad Badhwar, and alleging that there has been a spurt in crime since Congress government took over.“There is no doubt about who is the accused and who has committed the crime. But there should be no politics over this issue. I believe it is unfair to make a political issue out of someone’s murder, especially when it is an internal matter of a party,” the CM said, adding that the assailant has been identified by the victim’s son and a separate probe isn’t needed.“There is no need for a big investigation into the case as the victim’s son is an eyewitness. I am told that he (the accused) has left the state but there is no doubt to his whereabouts,” said Nath.Chouhan, in his letter to the CM, had expressed concern over the Badhwar’s murder and demanded immediate action. “Killing of a businessman in Indore two days ago followed by the daylight murder of BJP leader Prahlad Badhwar indicates a sudden spurt in criminal activities during Congress rule. Your government holds the responsibility to maintain law and order in the state. I request you to order a high level probe into the matter and take immediate action against the assailants to end political patronage given to them,” Chouhan says in the letter.In response, Nath said: “Allegations made by you in the letter seem to be politically motivated rather than showing concern over crimes in the state. But you need not worry as police morale will always remain high in my government and we will not allow criminal to expand their activities, like in the previous regime.” The CM told Chouhan that the Congress government would turn Madhya Pradesh into an “island of peace” and remove the blot of topping the NCRB report for maximum crimes registered in the country.Nath also pointed out that he has already given instructions to police to curb sale of narcotics near schools and colleges and warned of stringent action against those patronising criminals. He has also ordered a crackdown on gambling and satta dens and hooliganism. “Big and influential persons linked with sale of narcotics and drugs will not be spared,” the CM warned.Later, asked about Chouhan’s allegations, Nath told reporters: “He has nothing left to say. He is satisfied saying this only.”BJP kept up its attack, though, with party state president Rakesh Singh announcing protests across the state. “We will summit a memorandum to the DGP on Saturday against a sudden spurt in murders in MP. Our district units will submit memorandums to district collectors the same day to express their concern over deteriorating law and order in the state,” Singh said on Friday. Chouhan, Rakesh Singh and some state office-bearers have gone to Mandsaur following the murder.

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