Dera violence: CPI(M) demands immediate sacking of Khattar

The CPI(M) today demanded that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar be "immediately sacked" in view of the large-scale violence in the state after self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted in a rape case.
The party also demanded dissolution of the BJP government.
"Despite having knowledge and widespread apprehension of trouble and violence, the BJP government and the chief minister of Haryana did not take adequate preventive measures. This serious dereliction of duty by the state government created a situation of complete breakdown of law and order," the CPI(M) Politburo said in a statement.
At least 32 people were killed and over 250 injured as angry followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief went on rampage after his conviction by a CBI court in Panchkula yesterday.

Citing media reports that the chief minister and BJP legislators had visited Singh "to seek his blessings", the CPI(M) said this reflected sympathetic manner in which the saffron party sought to deal with the situation.
"This is the third occasion when the BJP-led state government has failed to protect the lives of innocent people and damage of public and private properties.

"Clearly the state government in Haryana has lost its authority to continue. The state government and the chief minister cannot remain in office and the chief minister must be immediately sacked," the party demanded.
Earlier, another self-styled godman Rampal was arrested from his fortified Satlok Ashram near Barwala in Hisar two years ago. At least six persons had lost their lives in the standoff, while many of his key aides and around 450 supporters were also arrested.

The state had witnessed violence last year too when Jats had staged protest seeking reservation in education and government jobs.
CBI judge Jagdeep Singh held Ram Rahim, the 50-year-old flamboyant chief of the Dera, guilty of rape in a case that was registered on the basis of an anonymous written complaint in 2002 that he had sexually exploited two female followers.
On the basis of the report, a case was registered against him in December 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The quantum of sentence against Ram Rahim will be pronounced on August 28.

Arson by the frenzied followers of the head of Dera Sacha Sauda was also witnessed in Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan within a few hours of the pronouncement of the judgement.