ദേശീയം

SDPI demands Haryana CM's resignation, condemns violence following Dera chief conviction in rape case
SDPI
26 ഓഗസ്റ്റ്‌ 2017

The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), while mourning the loss of more than 30 precious
lives in the violence and arson following the conviction in rape charges of Sirsa-based Dera
Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in Haryana, has vehemently condemned those
political parties which patronize such criminals in the garb of godmen for their vote bank
politics.
SDPI national president A. Sayeed in a statement said that Haryana Chief Minister M. L. Khattar
has direct responsibility. Reports say that the Haryana government also ignored intelligence
inputs. For that, he must be made accountable. He should be forced to quit. The Dera chief’s
supporters went on the rampage in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan to protest the court verdict
convicting him of rape have caused loss of public and private properties worth corers of rupees.
Sayeed said that such unholy godmen exploit women in their Deras/Ashrams. They also carry
out other nefarious activities in their citadel under cover while the government of the day
despite having full knowledge looks the other way. These political parties even extend official
financial support to keep their vote banks intact in the name of so-called social activities being
performed by these elements to hide their nefarious designs.

He recalled that an estimated 19 of the 47 BJP MLAs including Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala
had gone to pay obeisance to the Dera chief after the poll win in 2014 when the party was
voted to power in the state for the first time on its own. Not just the BJP, senior leaders of
Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal, too, have visited the Dera seeking its support. But in
2014, the Dera chief openly announced its support to BJP and reportedly asked lakhs of his
followers to vote for the party. It is commendable that the judge gave the verdict, uninfluenced
by the powerful political support that the accused enjoys.