Congress demands president's rule in Haryana post Panchkula

Congress on Saturday demanded imposition of president's rule in Haryana a day after violence in the state claimed the lives of 29 people and injured over 200 following an adverse court verdict against self-styled god man Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told media here, "This is an inefficient, incompetent, ineffective state government, Khattar sarkar. It should have been removed a while ago and it should be removed immediately and the state must be placed under president's rule," adding "This is the third serious incident where impotence has been shown by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government."

Describing Haryana as being in a virtual martial law like situation, Singhvi said, "It is unprecedented that this situation comes after prior notice of seven days and both the state governments and state governments are mute and have become 'impotent spectators' for the last six to seven days."

Blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, "The Prime Minister has failed to show any nationalism. The PM is more interested in protecting and sub serving the interest of his close friend Khattar and the Home Minister has been a mute spectator all the while."

Speaking to ANI, another Congress leader Anand Sharma said what has happened should not have been allowed to happen.

"The real question is how come people in thousands gathered outside the court complex even after promulgation of Section 144. It could have been prevented," he said.

Rebuking the state government Sharma said, "It was the collapse of the state and complete surrender of the administration. So, this government has no moral right to remain in office, either it should resign or it should be dismissed."

The violence in Haryana's Panchkula city erupted after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court convicted Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with his alleged involvement in a 2002 rape case.