Dhankar apologises for son’s behaviour, offers grant to village

SON HAD ALLEGEDLY THREATENED THE SARPANCH TO CUT OFF FUNDS TO VILLAGE AFTER AN ALTERCATION

ROHTAK: Haryana agriculture and panchayati raj minister OP Dhankar is learnt to have apologised to Satnali village sarpanch for the behaviour of his son, who allegedly threatened him.

A meeting between Dhankar and Satnali sarpanch Udai Singh Shekhawat was held in Bhiwani at BJP MP Dharambir Singh’s house on Wednesday night, where the minister not only apologised for his son’s remark but also promised a grant of ₹20 lakh for the village to pacify the residents’ anger.

The entire dissension had started when Dhankar’s son Aditya threatened Satnali sarpanch to end their agitation, saying that he (being the panchayat minister’s son) could stop the panchayat grants to the village and affect the sarpanch’s livelihood. The sarpanch was leading an agitation to suspend the loading of limestones (‘gitti’) in rail wagons, the tender to do which was given to Dhankar’s son company.

Enraged over his threat, the villagers had reached the police station demanding an FIR against Aditya Dhankar. However, the cops did not lodge a case. “The minister met us for around an hour and apologised for his son’s behaviour. We are satisfied now and don’t want to pursue criminal proceedings against his son,” sarpanch Shekhawat said.

He said Dhankar promised them that his son’s threat meant nothing and no bias will be shown in giving panchayat grants to the village. “To prove it, he gave us ₹20 lakh grant during the meeting to build a boundary wall in the village. He even arranged for a permanent doctor for the community health centre in our village,” said Shekhawat.

He added that the minister promised that his son will not force on limestone loading understanding the health concerns of the villagers. “The project has permanently been put off for good,” the sarpanch said. Dhankar remained unavailable for comments.