The saying, ‘once bitten twice shy’ holds true to the Manohar lal Khattar Government which seems to be in no mood to compromise on the law and order front in Haryana and treading cautiously, ahead of a court’s verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on August 25.
From the incident of self-styled Godman Rampal, who was arrested in a criminal case after a fortnight long stand-off between police and his supporters in 2014 to the violent Jat reservation agitation 2016, the BJP-led Haryana Government had in the past failed to prevent and control violence in the State.
Apart from drawing severe criticism from several quarters including Opposition parties, the Haryana Government was also pulled up by the Centre for inept handling of both these sensitive situations.
Now, Haryana is on the edge again as verdict in Dera Sacha Sauda chief case on August 25, has once again raised the spectre of ugly confrontations and violence in the state.
With the sect chief Ram Rahim having lakhs of followers in Punjab, Haryana and other States, the verdict in his case at a Panchkula court on Friday, is a sort of tightrope walk for the BJP Haryana Government that had earlier shown political and administrative ineptness in dealing with violence.
Given the “sensitive” situation, the Central Government is keeping a close watch on the security arrangements made in Haryana while Chief Minister Manohar lal has been holding regular meetings of top brass of state civil and police administration to review the law and order situation in the state.
From imposing prohibitory orders in all districts of Haryana to the deployment of paramilitary forces, the State Government has put in place elaborate security arrangements this time.
Among the series of measures taken by the government included keeping a vigil on anti-social elements through drone cameras, orders of pre-emptive arrest of anti-social elements to prevent any kind of untoward incident, videography of sensitive areas, sealing of inter-state borders, close watch on inter-district movements, bearers of arms licenses asked to deposit their weapons and reaching out to Dera followers to maintain peace in Haryana.
Apart from this, a complete ban has been imposed on the movement of vehicles on five roads adjoining the District Court Complex, Panchkula on August 24 and 25 as sect head has been asked to appear in person before the court on Friday.
Admitting that the situation is tense keeping in view the verdict in Ram Rahim case likely to be delivered on August 25, a senior official in CM’s office said that the CM is himself monitoring the entire situation and the Centre is also apprized about the preventive measures being taken in Haryana.
The State Government is preparing, keeping in mind all implications of the verdict on Friday. Foolproof security arrangements are made across Haryana with the deployment of state police and paramilitary forces. Apart from this, security has been beefed up in and around Panchkula Court and Ambala Central Jail, the official said. Coordination is also maintained with intelligence agencies and neighboring Punjab police, he added.
Notably, a special CBI court in Panchkula will pronounce its verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda. The head of the Sirsa-headquartered sect has been asked to appear in person before the court on August 25.
The sexual exploitation case was registered against the Dera chief in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana HC after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged sexual exploitation of two female followers.
Meanwhile, the Congress has slammed the BJP led Haryana Government for spreading anxiety and fear among people. Commenting on the “high alert” issued by State Government ahead of case verdict, Kiran Choudhry, leader of the Haryana Congress legislature Party said that it shows the inexperience and nervousness of the BJP led Haryana Government.
Notably, 31 people had died and more than 200 were injured during the 2016 violent Jat reservation protest while more than 150 people were injured in violent clashes between Sant Rampal followers and state police in 2014. Both the incidents had hit national headlines and caused a lot of embarrassment to the Haryana Government.