Congress seeks President’s rule

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 20

The Congress today demanded imposition of President’s rule in the state, saying the BJP government had “failed miserably in protecting women and girl children”.

Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev, Rajya Sabha member Kumari Selja and Congress Legislature Party Leader Kiran Choudhry demanded immediate resignation of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Dev referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to rapes in Haryana in his “Mann ki Baat” on January 28. “We hope the Prime Minister will speak about lack of safety and security for women in Haryana,” she said.

Selja attacked the BJP government for “failure on the law and order front” and said the Chief Minister should either resign or be sacked.

“We demand President’s rule in Haryana. We have met the Governor and will meet the President if we are not heard,” she said.

Choudhry said it was sad that the state was now known only for crime. “Law and order is in tatters. Women feel unsafe and parents cannot be sure if their girls leaving home will return at night. Anti-social elements are running riot because they know that the state authorities will not touch them,” she said.

Asked if Rahul Gandhi would visit the gangrape victims, she said, “The Congress president has always taken serious cognisance of such occurrences and will do so again.”

Hooda calls on Rahul

A day after state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar and Kiran Choudhry met Rahul Gandhi, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda met the Congress chief and discussed the political situation, including law and order. Recent rapes came up during the meeting and Hooda spoke of the "failure" of Manohar Lal Khattar government.