Rampal standoff: Haryana govt. working in a sensitive manner, says BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said that the Haryana government is working in a sensitive manner in Hisar, even as supporters of the controversial Sant Rampal used firearms and created a human chain to keep the police at bay from arresting the godman.

"The law is taking its own course and no one is above the law. The Haryana government is working in a very sensitive manner because though it is a priority that the concerned person should be arrested, but children and women have been in the ashram," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI.

"In such a scenario, in a very sensitive and calibrated way, the police is handling the whole situation and no one should try to politicize this," he added.

Patra further said that all precautions were being taken so that nobody gets hurt, however assuring that Rampal would soon be taken into custody.

"Though the government is trying to arrest the godman, no one should be injured in the due process. Women and children have been used as a shield and the government's duty is to also protect them," he said.

"That is why a very measured way is being taken and the government has said that the godman will soon be in its clutches," he added.

Meanwhile, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) professed sorrow over the attack on mediaperson in the deteriorating situation in Hisar and called for the resignation of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

"I feel that the media is eyes that people cannot have - they reveal the truth to the people. I only want to say that the public relations office of the government has completely failed in media coordination and the result is that the police lathi-charged the media and broke their cameras," INDL leader Dushyant Chautala told the media.

The first thing to do is to remove the women and children from that area. The people who have been injured should be safely taken out and provided with medical attention. Then the situation there should be brought under control. If the state government is unable to bring the escalating incident under control, then I feel that the Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Haryana Police, while attempting to storm the fortified ashram of Rampal, used tear gas shells, water cannons and batons to disperse his supporters, who allegedly fired back leaving several people, including some media persons injured.

This incident took place after the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against Rampal for contempt of court. His supporters fortified his mission campus in Chandigarh, demanding his release.

Rampal faces contempt of court for skipping judicial proceedings before a Sessions Court in Haryana's Hisar district on November 5, citing medical reasons. The godman has been charged with murder, attempt to murder and other charges under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 2006 after his followers attacked villagers.