Manohar Lal Khattar declined to comment on the controversy over Dera chief’s parole. (File)
Chandigarh:
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar declined to comment on the controversy over the parole of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. In Delhi for XXX, Mr Khattar said: “Prisons have their own rules. It wouldn’t be right for me to comment on it”.
The parole of the Dera chief – who is serving a 20-year sentence for rape and murder – ahead of the panchayat elections in BJP-ruled Haryana has sparked a huge controversy.
Since his release earlier this month, Ram Rahim has held online satsangs (religious gatherings) attended by multiple BJP leaders. He has also recorded a music video prior to Diwali collecting songs on YouTube.
Congress has questioned the grant of parole, pointing to the panchayat elections and the Adampur assembly seat poll to be held next door. Gurmeet Ram Rahim has a huge following in Haryana unaffected by his conviction.
“Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was given 40 days’ parole in view of the Adampur by-election. Why is the BJP not allowing Ram Rahim to run in the elections so he doesn’t have to vote in secret?” tweeted senior state congress leader Udit Raj.
Mahua Moitra of the Trinamool Congress also lashed out at the BJP after the parole of Ram Rahim. “What now? BJP declares ‘Rapes’ Day’ a national holiday? Rapist Ram Rahim again gets parole, hosts satsang attended by a large number of BJP Haryana leaders,” she tweeted.
Haryana vice-chairman Ranbir Gangwa, who attended the sect’s meeting in Hisar on Wednesday, said he sees nothing wrong with attending the dera chief’s online speech.
“I have been associated with this dera since I was born. The dera has existed in my village since 1960. Whoever follows that belief is his choice, why should anyone have a problem with that,” he said by nws agency Press Trust of the Indies.
Asked about the timing of the Dera chief’s parole, Mr Gangwa said, “If he has been given parole against the prison handbook, then one can object. But parole to any prisoner is his legitimate right and there are rules for that.” drafted”.
“He was released on parole even if there were no polls, so I don’t see a problem here,” Mr Gangwa said.
Previously, the Dera chief was released on parole in June, ahead of the 46 public body elections. In February, ahead of the parliamentary elections in Punjab, he was given a three-week leave of absence.
