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Case against MP's kin for violence

Special Correspondent

Accused will not be spared whatever their caste or political affiliation, says Hooda

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday asserted that those who had indulged in arson in Balmiki Basti at Gohana in Sonepat district on Wednesday would not be spared whatever their caste or political affiliation. Some anti-social elements, reportedly belonging to an upper caste, had set on fire several houses of Dalits in the village.

Addressing Press conferences in New Delhi in the morning and at Gohana later in the day, Mr. Hooda said that a case had been registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act against 23 people including the son and brother of the local Member of Parliament, Kishan Singh Sangwan, who is also the national vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He appealed to those who had deserted their houses to return and assured them full protection.

While asserting that his Government was with the poor and the Dalits and stating that the victims were his brothers, he hoped the situation would normalise as justice would be done speedily. He added that the Congress Government was formed with the support of Dalits and their interests would be fully safeguarded.

Mr. Hooda asserted that the incident appeared to be "pre-planned'' and politically-motivated. Assuring a fair enquiry, he said that any lapse by the administration would be investigated. Claiming that the people were satisfied with the administrative investigation, he said the demand for a CBI probe would be considered sympathetically.

He disclosed that of the 54 houses which had been destroyed in the arson, seven had sustained maximum damage;12 were partially damaged and 35 received only minor damage. He said the Government would seek permission from the Election Commission to provide compensation to the affected people as Model Code of Conduct is in force because of the upcoming by-election to the Rohtak Lok Sabha Constituency.

The Chief Minister claimed that it was due to restraint shown by the district authorities and the police in dealing with the situation that there was no loss of life. He said that some political parties were not digesting the rapid pace of all-round development ushered in the State and these appeared to be behind the violence.

An official spokesman said here that life in Gohana had returned to normal. Banks, schools and government and private establishments remained open. The administration and the police were maintaining strict vigil. The Government had made arrangements for the rehabilitation of the affected people in a government building at a stadium near the Balmiki Basti. Some voluntary organisations were also providing meals to the affected people, he added.

The President of the Haryana unit of the Congress and former Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, visited the affected area and assured that the guilty would not be spared. He urged the people to maintain communal amity and peace.

The Union Minister of State for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Selja, who visited Balmiki Basti, accused the BJP for allegedly fomenting trouble in the area.

She stated that the Panchayat convened by members of a particular community on Wednesday to protest against the murder of a financier, Baljit, was peaceful.

It was only some anti-social elements reportedly owing allegiance to the BJP who instigated the mob violence.

The Haryana Social Welfare Minister, Kartar Devi, appealed to the Dalits to exercise restraint and not to be misled by anti-social elements.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sangwan has denied the involvement of his relatives in the Gohana violence. He said the State Government was trying to give a political twist to the whole episode in view of the Rohtak by-election.

Even as reports reaching the State headquarters said that a Dalit panchayat has called for a Haryana bandh on Friday, senior Indian National Lok Dal leader, Ajay Chautala, demanded the resignation of the Hooda Government on moral grounds.

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