After the Punjab and Haryana High Court pulled up the BJP led Haryana Government for its failure to ensure foolproof security arrangements in the wake of the verdict on the 15-year-old rape case against the Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, senior Cabinet Minister Ram Bilas Sharma on Thursday said that the situation is “alarming” and the Government is doing its best to ensure that peace is maintained across the State.
All directions given by the HC would be followed, said Education and Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma while talking to the mediapersons.
The HC on Thursday pulled up the Haryana Government for allowing the dera followers to gather at Panchkula despite prohibitory orders enforced in the state. The Court also said that it will not hesitate to dismiss the state DGP, if situation turned volatile.
When asked about the Court observations and directions, Ram Bilas Sharma said that I can not comment on Court’s observations but assured that the Government will follow all the instructions of HC.
On being asked why the dera followers were allowed to gather in Panchkula and no action was taken against them, the Minister said that we have made an appeal to the followers to maintain peace, whatever would be the verdict on Friday… We are hopeful that things would go smoothly tomorrow, he said.
When asked to comment on soft approach of Government towards dera followers in view of Dera chief’s support to BJP in elections, Sharma denied it and said that all precautionary measures have been taken by the Government.
In 2014, Dera threw its weight behind the BJP, both in the lok Sabha and in the Haryana assembly elections. Early this year, Dera chief had also supported the Akali Dal–BJP combine in Punjab Assembly polls.
Commenting on his recent visit to Dera headquarters in Sirsa, the Minister said that I had visited the dera on August 16 and had donated Rs 51 lakh as the dera is undertaking many welfare works.
Asked to comment on BJP’s cordial relations with the dera chief despite criminal cases registered against him, the Cabinet Minister said that the rape case is going on from last 15 years and I can not comment on the case as verdict is yet to come.
Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in Haryana and Indian National lok Dal’s senior leader Abhay Chautala on Thursday said the BJP Government has failed to maintain law and order situation in the State. Despite of prohibitory orders in the entire state, situation is sensitive in various districts, he said.
Chautala said the Government has not taken adequate steps to maintain peace in Haryana. The INlD leader also made an appeal to dera followers to believe in judicial system and maintain peace.
He, however, also appreciated various welfare works undertaken by Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
Earlier, commenting on the “high alert” issued by State Government ahead of case verdict, Kiran Choudhry, leader of the Haryana Congress legislature Party had said that it shows the inexperience and nervousness of the BJP led Haryana Government.