Now, organisers back out ahead of Saini’s July 15 rally

KARNAL: Ahead of the rally to be held by rebel BJP MP from Kurukshetra, Raj Kumar Saini, in the Jat-dominated Ballah village of Karnal district, the organisers of the event have backed out, alleging pressure from the district administration.

They alleged that the administration was pressurising them by issuing notices to cancel the July 15 programme as it might create ‘law and order situation’.

“We were served notices which mentioned that we did not have any permission from the district administration to hold a programme and this could disturb peace and harmony of the village and our properties could be attached,” said Ratan Lal, an organiser. “We have now decided to cancel the programme,” he added.

As per the information, the decision was taken as members of Jat community were opposing Saini’s visit to Ballah. Even the members of All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti have cancelled their proposed meeting under the banner of 36 communities in same village on the same day. However, MP Saini has accused Karnal district administration of working under the pressure of a particular community. “The administration has surrendered to the people of a specific community and is forcing our people to cancel the programme of an elected representative,” he said, adding that the administration had also pressurised the organisers to cancel the programme and this was the ‘murder of democracy’.

However, Karnal deputy commissioner Aditya Dahiya said nobody had sought permission for the programme and the organisers decided to cancel the event by their own. “The district administration had issued them notices for organising the programmes without permission,” he added.