Udaipur beheading: Leaders across the board condemn the brutal killing

Leaders across the political spectrum have come out against the murder of an Udaipur tailor, an incident that has sparked tension and outrage in Rajasthan. 40-year-old Kanhaiya Lal was murdered on Tuesday by two accused, Gos Mohammad and Riyaz Akhtari, who have now been arrested. 

The incident captured in a video shows the two men slit the throat of the tailor, saying they avenged an insult to Islam. In another video, the accused were seen boasting about the murder as they also issued a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police said.

The tailor had reportedly shared a social media post that expressed his support to suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, whose remarks against Prophet Mohammad had sparked nationwide outrage.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he was deeply shocked by the incident and called for immediate punishment for those spreading terror. Gandhi, in Hindi, tweeted, "I am deeply shocked by the heinous killing in Udaipur. Brutality in the name of religion cannot be tolerated. Those spreading terror through such brutality should be punished immediately."

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also condemned the 'heinous murder' case. 

Gehlot tweeted in Hindi, "I condemn the heinous murder of the youth in Udaipur. Strict action will be taken against all the criminals involved in this incident and the police will go to the bottom of the crime. I appeal to all parties to maintain peace. Strictest punishment will be given to every person involved in such heinous crime."

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted in Hindi, saying, "The culprits should get the harshest punishment. Spreading hatred and violence in the name of religion is fatal for our country and society. We have to together strengthen the efforts for peace and non-violence."

Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind also condemned the incident, saying such acts cannot be justified. The organisation's general secretary, Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi, in a statement said, condemned the "brutal killing in Udaipur apparently on the pretext of the insult to the Prophet" and called it against the law of the land and the laws of Islam.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said such acts have no place in a civilised society. He tweeted, in Hindi, "The Udaipur incident is very horrifying and gruesome. Such dastardly acts have no place in a civilised society. We condemn this in the strongest terms. The perpetrators of this crime should be given strict punishment."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi, "The killing in Udaipur should be condemned in the harshest terms. Everyone in the society has to come forward to save the country's brotherhood." 

Mayawati also condemned the incident and demanded action against the culprits. 

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "I strongly condemn the Udaipur incident... We hope the Rajasthan govt takes strict action. Had the police been more alert, this wouldn't have happened... Radicalisation is spreading."