BJP firmly backs Barala, rules out his resignation

FACING THE HEAT Party says question of Barala offering to resign doesn’t arise

CHANDIGARH : Amid clamour for the resignation of Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party president Subhash Barala, the ruling party continues to stand firmly behind the leader.The party has ruled out the resignation of its state unit chief following the arrest of the latter’s son in an alleged stalking case.

“There is no question of Barala’s resignation or summoning him to Delhi,” said Anil Jain, in-charge of the party’s state affairs. “This matter does not pertain to the BJP or Barala. It’s a matter pertaining to an individual, ’’ Jain told HT.

Asked if Barala offered to resign, Jain said the question of Barala offering to resign did not arise. Reacting to circulation of reports on social media that Barala was putting in his papers, BJP leader Rajiv Jain said such misinformation was the creation of opposition parties.

CENTRE TRYING TO HUSH UP CASE: CONG

The opposition Congress, however, remains unrelenting. AICC in-charge of communication department Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday demanded that Barala should step down.

“When a similar incident involving the son of a senior minister in Haryana government took place a few years back, all top BJP leaders, including present home minister Rajnath Singh, demanded the minister’s resignation holding him accountable,” Surjewala said obliquely referring to the Jessica Lal murder case.

The Congress leader asked, “Will the BJP, the PM and the BJP chief adhere to the same standards that the Congress had adhered to?” Accusing the Union home ministry of trying to hush up the matter, Surjewala said, “The home ministry, which directly controls the UT administration and police is conspiring to hush up the entire matter to protect the Haryana BJP chief and his son.”

The Congress leader, also an MLA from Haryana, said the fact that close circuit television (CCTV) footage from five different cameras has gone missing is ample indication of the attempt to save Barala. “Will the UT administration answer as to how all the CCTV cameras have stopped functioning? Does it not show that the Union government is giving diktats to protect the state BJP president and his son,’’ Surjewala added.

There is no question of Barala’s resignation. This matter doesn’t pertain to BJP or him, but pertains to an individual. ANIL JAIN, in-charge, BJP’s state affairs The home ministry, which controls the UT administration and police, are conspiring to hush up the matter to protect Barala and his son. RANDEEP SINGH SURJEWALA, Congress leader