Terming as “unfortunate and shameful” the alleged stalking of a woman by Haryana state BJP chief’s son and his friend in Chandigarh, the opposition parties on Tuesday staged protests and demanded a probe by the CBI or by a sitting judge of the High Court in the matter.
The opposition parties including the Indian National lok Dal (INlD), the Congress and the CPI also accused the Chandigarh Police of working under the pressure of the ruling BJP.
Congress and INlD also submitted memorandums to Punjab and Haryana Governors demanding a “fair probe” in the stalking case.
Alleging that the police is working under pressure from the BJP, the INlD, Haryana’s main opposition party demanded a probe by the CBI or by a sitting judge of the High Court into the alleged incident.
The INlD submitted a memorandum to Punjab Governor VP Badnore, who is also the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, demanding a fair probe in the case.
Haryana INlD chief Ashok Arora, while talking to the mediapersons said that it is clear that the Chandigarh Police is acting under pressure of the BJP and attempt is being made to save the accused.
We demand a probe by the CBI or by a sitting judge of the High Court in case, he added.
Arora said, “In the memorandum to Punjab Governor, the party has apprised him that attempts were being made to protect the son of an influential person by Chandigarh police by watering down the case. We told him that kidnapping charge should have been added.”
Claiming that till the time the Chandigarh police was not aware that the accused was Barala’s son, Arora said that they took immediate action and promptly registered a case, but once they came to know about him, they started acting under pressure and watering down the case.
All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) chief Shoba Oza alongwith other women leaders of the party also met complainant Varnika Kundu and her family at Panchkula and assured party’s support.
A day before, Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar had also met Varnika and her family at their Panchkula residence.
The AIMC chief Shoba Oza also met Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki here and submitted a memorandum to him.
In a memorandum to the Haryana Governor, the Mahila Congress said “the AIMC is deeply disturbed at the dilution of criminal charges against the politically influential culprits belonging to the ruling BJP. We are pained that the Chandigarh Police is trying to protect Subhash Barala’s son in the case”.
The Chandigarh Police dropped serious criminal charges of harassment, attempt to kidnap and outrage the modesty of a woman without any judicial proceedings and due criminal investigation, it said. Condemning the stalking incident, the Mahila Congress workers also staged a protest.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) activists held protest at Panchkula and demanded justice for the victim and exemplary punishment to the culprits in the case.