Sharp differences within Haryana BJP are out in open once again after an alleged attack on ruling BJP MlA, Santosh Sarwan, who has accused Minister of State, Nayab Singh Saini of shielding the ‘liquor and drug mafia’.
While Santosh Sarwan has alleged that ‘liquor and drug mafia’ responsible for the attack on her are being shielded by Nayab Saini, the Minister of State has denied such allegations.
Even as Mullana MlA, Sarwan continued her tirade against her own party members and even named a BJP mandal president in her complaint, the police said prima facie, the incident did appear to be an attack. The investigation was still in progress in the case.
Unhappy with the response of the police, Sarwan has already met Chief Minister to air her grievances and claimed threat to her life while the latter has assured her strict action in the case.
On the other hand, more than a dozen dissenting MlAs, who are not happy with the Manohar lal Khattar Government are all set to take up the issue with the party high command.
Unsatisfied with the response of the BJP-led State Government and ongoing inquiry into the case, the rebel MlAs are chalking out a strategy to corner their own Government on law and order situation in the State besides other issues.
In the absence of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala, who is on a two-week foreign visit and would return next week, the rebel MlAs are likely to raise the issue with party central leaders soon.
“In a previous party meeting, we were assured that our issues would be resolved. However, the State Government does seem to be serious on the issue of development and law and order situation,” said a senior BJP MlA.
He said that if the government fails to take appropriate action into the incident of attack on MlA Sarwan, the MlAs will take up the issue with BJP central leadership. An inquiry should be conducted on the allegations leveled by the aggrieved MlA on party leaders, who are shielding the liquor and drug mafia, he added.
Health Minister Anil Vij has also demanded an inquiry into the alleged attack. A day before, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Minister Geeta Bhukkal had also lend their support to Sarwan and lashed out at the Haryana Government for deteriorating law and order situation.
The two Congress leaders had alleged that if a ruling BJP woman MlA is not safe is the state, how can ordinary citizens expect safety hereIJ
Notably, Santosh Sarwan had alleged that some people had threatened her of dire consequences on June 5. Sarwan, along with her personal staff and son, was returning to Chandigarh after inaugurating development works in Ambala when some men in a car forced her driver to stop the vehicle and threatened her of dire consequences.
She had accused Minister of State, Nayab Singh Saini of shielding the ‘liquor and drug mafia’, which she claimed are responsible for the attack on her.
However, Nayab Saini has denied such allegations. “I am also concerned about the attack on women MlA. If she has any grievances, she can talk directly to me or raise her issues at party forum,” he added.