Mumbai, (The Hindu): The Congress on Monday accused workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the murder of Congress worker Manoj Dubey in Mumbai.

Calling it a “murder of democracy”, Maharashtra Congress president and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan alleged that the BJP has brought in the new tactic of eliminating political rivals by murdering them.

“This is not only a murder of Congress worker but that of democracy. Our nation follows the tradition of discussion over differing views. But it seems the BJP is bringing in the new phase of eliminating political rivals by considering them as enemies,” Mr. Chavan said.

Dubey, 45, was stabbed to death in the wee hours on Monday by two to three unknown assailants near Asalpha metro station in Ghatkopar. He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. The Congress party said that the deceased had allegedly put a post on Facebook saying Congress will form the government in 2019. “The goons of BJP murdered him over this,” Mr. Chavan alleged.

Officers at the Saki Naka police station said that the motive behind Dubey’s murder was still unclear, as there are a lot of conflicting reports from various witnesses.

“Dubey did get into an argument over social media on Sunday, but a non cognisable complaint was registered in this regard on Sunday evening, and the matter, to the best of our knowledge, was closed. While Dubey's family has claimed that he was murdered over the slinging match that he had over social media, we have also found eye witnesses who saw Dubey getting into an accident late on Sunday night.

“According to them, Dubey rammed his car into another stationary vehicle in Asalpha some time after midnight, which led to an altercation with the owner of the second vehicle. We have taken two suspects into custody and are working towards ascertaining the exact motive behind the murder,” an officer with the Saki Naka police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone X) ND Reddy added, “An FIR of murder against unknown persons under the Indian Penal code has been registered for the moment, and several suspects are being quizzed.”

Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said that murder of a Congress activist merely over a Facebook post is an absolutely shameful thing for a State like Maharashtra. “Is this State run by the law or goons?” he asked.

The BJP has not yet responded on allegations levelled by the Congress.