Congress on Saturday attacked the Centre over the prevailing tension in Haryana and Punjab and also called for the resignation of Haryana Chief Minister Ml Khattar. The party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to implement “Raj Dharma” and alleged that he was more interested in protecting and serving the interests of his “close friend” the Haryana Chief Minister.
Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that he has no hesitation in putting the blames squarely first and foremost at the State Government and equally at the Central Government and more precisely the Prime Minister’s door. “@PMOIndia must put the interest and safety of Indians before his party’s interests. @mlkhattar must resign,” the party said on Twitter.
Singhvi said it is unprecedented that such a situation arose even after prior notice of seven days and both State and Central Governments have been “mute and impotent spectators” for the last six-seven days. “This is an inefficient, incompetent, ineffective State Government Khattar Sarkar. It should have been removed a while ago; it must be removed immediately under President’s rule. This goes without saying and this is bare minimum, it should happen as we speak,” Singhvi, also a Rajya Sabha member.
Singhvi said on behalf of his party he would like to remind that this Government of the BJP has been unable to do any governance, leave aside good governance. “This is the third serious incident where impotence has been shown. I am reminding you because our institutional memory is short, that in November 2014 there was the Rampal Dera issue, in which, fortunately the numbers were fewer, but the same degree of inactivity, complicity and complete inefficiency was shown. Thereafter, a second time, in February 2016 the Jat agitation claimed so many lives and losses of property worths crores and crores of rupees.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who left for Norway earlier on the day, condemned the “rampage and lawlessness” in Haryana and appealed for the restoration of peace. “Violence and brutality have no place in our society. Condemn the rampage and lawlessness in Haryana and appeal to restore peace and tranquillity,” he said on Twitter.
“Rule of law is a pillar of democracy, let’s respect it but Govt must allow accurate reporting by media to ensure transparency & accountability,” Rahul tweeted later in the night. His tweet came a few hours after he left for Oslo, where he is expected to meet and interact with political and business leaders.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also appealed for peace but said the Government should have been prepared. Hooda said it was not the time for a blame-game but said the Government should have been prepared and steps taken in advance to ensure law and order. He said Haryana had already suffered because of the “laxity” and “weakness” of the Government during earlier agitations.