Despite being pushed on the backfoot, BJP is putting up a brave face in Haryana, ruling out any possibility of resignation of Haryana party chief Subash Barala till the investigations are over in the stalking case involving his son.
Following the release of CCTV footage of the incident which shows a white SUV racing behind DJ Varnika Kundu’s black car confirming her account of being chased on the streets of Chandigarh during Friday midnight, the opposition on Tuesday upped the ante against the BJP-led Central and Haryana Governments accusing the ruling party for shielding Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar, who are accused in the stalking case.
While the senior leaders of Congress and Indian National lok Dal, met Punjab and Haryana Governors demanding fair probe into the stalking case and resignation of Subhash Barala on moral grounds, the Manohar lal Khattar Government stood behind Barala, aggressively countering opposition’s attack.
Barala, who had been incommunicado since the stalking incident came to the light, finally spoke to the mediapersons on Tuesday and said, the complainant Varnika Kundu, “is like my daughter”, and the investigation is progressing as per law.
Accused of influencing the probe being conducted by Chandigarh police into the case, the State BJP chief denied any attempts to influence the investigation.
There is no pressure from me or the BJP in this case till now and it will not happen in the future, he said.
Barala further said the law should take its own course, the BJP is a party which believes in women’s rights and freedom.
Whatever proceedings required should be carried out against Vikas and Ashish (accused), he added.
The opposition parties have been mounting pressure seeking Subhash Barala’s resignation on the issue as protests are being held in Chandigarh and Haryana since Saturday.
Haryana cadre IAS officer VS Kundu’s daughter, Varnika Kundu, 29 had alleged that Subhash Barala’s son Vikas (23) and his friend Ashish (27) had harassed and chased her while she was driving alone, on her way home on Friday midnight.
Both were arrested by the Chandigarh Police but were released on bail as they were booked under bailable sections of the IPC and the Motor Vehicles Act. Medical reports have confirmed that the accused were inebriated at the time of the incident.
Even as clamour to oust the State BJP chief has grown after the incident, Chief Minister Manohar lal and his Cabinet has been continuously defending Barala.
While party’s Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini and few BJP leaders have demanded resignation of Subash Barala on moral grounds, the BJP has now cautioned its leaders to refrain from issuing controversial statements on the stalking incident.
The stalking incident was also discussed at an informal routine cabinet meeting held by Manohar lal on Tuesday.
After the meeting, Cabinet Ministers Ram Bilas Sharma and Krishan Kumar Bedi defended their party colleague and also, denied reports of BJP influencing the ongoing investigations in the matter.
Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, while talking to mediapersons said since Vikas is Haryana BJP’s chief son and Varnika is daughter of Virender Kundu, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Tourism, both are our children. But Subhash Barala has nothing to do with the case. Investigation is going on and the Court will decide on the matter, Sharma said.
lending support to Subhash Barala, Cabinet Minister Krishna Kumar Bedi said the case should not be associated with Haryana Government as the Chandigarh Police is investigating the issue. There is no pressure on UT Police from BJP or Haryana Government, he said.
Refraining from commenting in support of complainant Varnika, Bedi gave example of Rohtak sisters’ case who had accused three youths of sexually harassing them in a moving bus two years ago. However, a Rohtak Court had earlier this year discharged all three boys.
Bedi added that they will accept whatever the court will decide in the stalking case.
A day before, senior BJP leader Anil Jain, who is incharge of the party’s Haryana affairs, had ruled out the resignation of its state unit chief saying, “Subhash Barala has nothing to with Vikas Barala case.”
Earlier, Chief Minister had also come in support of Subhash Barala saying that the father could not be punished for son’s action.
The stalking incident came as a huge embarrassment for the ruling BJP, which had launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padho (BBBP) campaign and vowed to ensure safety of women across the country.
After the incident, the BJP led Centre and Haryana Governments have been criticized by many, particularly on the social networking websites with jokes going on BJP’s BBBP campaign replaced with “Beta Bachao” campaign and “Beti Bachao, BJP se” campaign.
Under severe criticism from various quarters, the BJP leaders have been using all tactics to defend Subhash Barala. From running a campaign on social media to malign complainant’s image to giving examples of incidents like Ruchika Girhotra case, Jessica lal case which happened during the tenure of other political parties, the BJP is doing everything to save party’s image after the incident.