Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday a decision on the parole application of Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape-murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh would be taken keeping in view the interests of the State.
Khattar said after receiving the Divisional Commissioner's recommendation, the Government would play its role if needed. "If there will be no role of the Government, it won't," he added.
"Anyone who is entitled for parole can seek one. We cannot stop anyone," Khattar said at a press conference here, in which two Indian National Lok Dal legislators -- Zakir Hussain and Parminder Dhull -- joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Asked about who would be responsible in case violence breaks out if the Dera chief was granted parole, Khattar said: "You are trying to draw inference on your own as if any decision has been taken."
Ram Rahim, behind bars at Sunaria jail in Haryana's Rohtak district after being convicted in two rape cases and in the murder case of a journalist, has sought 42 days of parole to look after his fields in Sirsa district.
The 51-year-old, who is also facing trial in the murder case of a Dera follower — Ranjit Singh — and in another case involving castration of sect followers, got a favourable report from the jail superintendent, who said his conduct had been good.