BJP Leaps To Defend Haryana CM Khattar, Says Violence Was Handled Well

But it clearly overplayed its hand – which was more than apparent with the authorities in no tearing hurry to check the streaming procession into the city, but in a bigger rush to accommodate the Dera crowd.

Earlier today, the Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sandhu had apprised that Dera Sacha Sauda chief would receive the punishment through video conferencing. Strongly condemn violence urge everyone to maintain peace, Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Sandhu was addressing a joint press conference in Chandigarh along with Haryana Chief Secretary D S Dhesi and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas.

The second Dera supporter can be heard administering the first to ask all the parents to “tell their kids that they had also joined this large congregation of their own accord”. Two women followers of Ram Rahim sent anonymous letters to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, accusing the Dera chief of raping them and other sadhvis in his sprawling Dera campus.

There was mayhem in Panchkula on Friday as Dera Sacha Sauda supporters went berserk after the sect chief’s conviction setting afire vehicles and pelting stones.

The government of Haryana, he said, was principally responsible for the lack of adequate preventive measures. “It was a defective order issued by Panchkula DCP”, said Niwas.

It was responding Centre’s lawyer’s defence that Friday’s violence was a matter of the state, reported NDTV.

“Tight security arrangements have been put in place in Rohtak”, the DC said.

Another Haryana Minister Manish Grover too had announced Rs 11 lakh to the dera sports village. He said he would not allow violence of any form from any sect in the state. Honeypreet, who dera says is the daughter (not real daughter) was seen in the helicopter with dera chief when he was taken to Rohtak jail yesterday. “You should be prepared that there would be reaction (from the Dera followers) after the verdict”, he added.

The local police, which had been urging those inside to vacate the sprawling premises through loudspeakers, said they were expecting the premises to empty out soon. Tussle started only after conviction.

The report mentioned that there have been as many as fifty-one incidents in Punjab and thirty-nine FIRs were registered.

He said he would be going to the sect headquarters to talk to the Dera management to vacate the campus.

The Court in its order asked the States of Punjab and Haryana to submit in sealed cover their future plans and strategy for preventing this kind of incidents of violence and arson in future and whether such planning includes the complete sensitization of Dera Sacha Sauda. It happens at times.