‘Not one person from BJP spoke in support, it’s politics for them’
CHANDIGARH STALKING IAS father says a BJP man instead offered a deal, got the accused bailed
Haryana bureaucrat VS Kundu lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday for not “putting in a word of regret” after its Haryana unit chief’s son allegedly stalked his daughter last week.
Kundu’s daughter was chased by two suspects, including Haryana BJP leader Subhash Barala’s son Vikas, as she drove home shortly after midnight on Friday. The case has become a rallying point for women’s rights activists and the BJP’s rivals, who allege that Chandigarh police may be going soft on the suspects because they belong to a powerful family.
“People from the IAS fraternity across the country have sent me messages of support. People cutting across party affiliations have expressed their support. I am grateful to them for understanding our concern and agony. But not a single person from the BJP approached us or cared to send a message... That hurts. If those affiliated to the ruling BJP are hesitant to even put in a word of regret, one can very well understand why they are so diffident. It’s simply about politics for them,” Kundu said.
“However, we are determined. Come what may, we will not back off. And that means even an intervention by the almighty,” the father added.
Subhash Barala broke his silence on the issue on Tuesday, saying Varnika was “like a daughter” to him and whatever lawful action is required should be taken against Vikas and his friend Ashish Kumar.
The IAS officer said on the contrary, Krishan Dhull, a BJP worker, approached him and sought to broker a deal on the night of the incident.
“Dhull, who later provided surety for Vikas and bailed him out, even insisted that I speak to Subhash Barala. I told Dhull that he should be ashamed of pleading their case. I refused to speak to Barala at Dhull’s insistence and told him that it did not matter whose son Vikas is. I told him that he (Barala) needed to come to my place with this plea,” he said.