Pays obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine
JAMMU: Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, who was in Jammu today on a formal visit, had to face tough time when repeatedly questioned about his government’s inaction into brutal gang-rape of a teenage girl in Rewari district of that State, which took place three days ago.
“Don’t heckle me, you don’t know how to behave when a leader speaks,” he reportedly said and seemed uncomfortable when reporters asked him to reply to the allegations but he chose to remain mum over the issue.
Facing severe criticism at his home State for his inaction over the said incident, he was also accused of skipping the place and for preferred to visit the frontier town of Nowshera in Rajouri district to participate in a religious programme, where he was seen sweeping ground, as part of country-wide launch of “Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS)” Programme.
Talking to The News Now, a senior Congress leader, who didn’t want to be quoted, accused the BJP of always playing foul play.
“At a time when he should be in his home State, how he (Khattar) could think of attending a relatively-lesser important function outside,” he said and added, “He was seen sweeping ground, which means he chose attending formal functions over his moral duty.”
According to sources, Khattar began his day with laying of foundation stone of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Public School at Nowshera in Rajouri.
He announced a donation of Rs 31 lakh from the Harayana government and said he will be contributing his one month’s salary and Rs 1 lakh for the school.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he said, “I am proud of the fact that every 10th soldier belongs to Haryana and they are making supreme sacrifice in safeguarding the country.”
He also lauded the efforts of Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh in reaching out to border people and extending all possible support to mitigate their sufferings, especially during unprovoked firing and shelling by Pakistani forces.
Later, sharing his experiences with the State BJP leaders on 1st day of State Working Committee Meeting of the party here at party headquarters in Jammu, the Haryana Chief Minister said that the BJP has progressed with its good works and sacrifices throughout the country and has delivered the results in the Southern as well North-East regions.
As per party sources, Khattar also exhibited confidence that the BJP will score better performance in the coming time by winning hearts of people in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
“It was a formal visit of the Haryana Chief Minister to Jammu on the invitation of State BJP leaders,” they said.
The Haryana Chief Minister also paid obeisance at the world famous Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and prayed for peace and harmony in the country, the sources added.