‘SATISFIED WITH HANDLING OF DERA CASE’
Meets Shah, says he is satisfied with handling of the dera case
An unfazed Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Wednesday ruled out his resignation after meeting BJP chief
Amit Shah, saying his government had acted with “restraint” in the the Dera Sacha Sauda episode, and he was satisfied. Khattar was responding to a query on speculation that the BJP top brass might replace him amid the opposition’s charge that his government mishandled the case, resulting in large-scale violence. At least 38 people were killed, mostly in police firing.
NEW DELHI: An unfazed Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar Wednesday ruled out his resignation after meeting BJP chief Amit Shah, saying his government had acted with “restraint” in the the Dera Sacha Sauda episode, and he was satisfied.
Khattar was responding to a query on speculation that the BJP top brass might replace him amid the opposition’s charge that his government mishandled the case, resulting in largescale violence. At least 38 people were killed, mostly in police firing.
He said his government had acted with “restraint” as its first target was to ensure that Gurmeet Ram Rahim appeared before the court in Panchkula.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has been accused of mishandling the matter by allowing thousands of Dera followers to assemble in Panchkula before he was to be sentenced, sparking a wave of violence following his conviction of rape.
Justifying his government’s action, the Haryana chief minister said had something happened before the controversial sect head appeared before the special CBI court on August 25, Ram Rahim might have used that as an “excuse” for not turning up in court.
“We acted with restraint. We achieved our aim,” he said.
Asked about the demand for his resignation, he shot back, “Anybody can say anything... We are satisfied with our work. Whatever we did was right. There will be no change.”
To a question on his party courting the Dera head for political support, Khattar said political parties sought everyone’s cooperation.
“But there is never a condition for such support that somebody breaks the law. Nobody is above the law,” he said, claiming that his government had no deal with the Dera chief, as was being alleged.
The force used by the state police was minimal, he said, adding that it also showed no laxity against those indulging in violence.
He also rejected reports of a “VIP treatment” given to the Dera head after he was convicted, saying he was temporarily put up in a guest house as arrangements were being made in the jail.
Convicted of raping two of his women followers, the Dera chief was on Monday sentenced to 20 years in jail.
› n
We acted with restraint. We achieved our aim. Anybody can say anything... We are satisfied with our work. There will be no change (of guard). MANOHAR LAL KHATTAR, Haryana chief minister