Reacting to the row surrounding presence of tainted former Haryana director general of police SPS Rathore on the main dias during district-level Republic Day function in Panchkula, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said the matter was in his knowledge.
“We are examining whether or not he (Rathore) was entitled to attend the function and whether he should have been invited at all,” said Khattar.
He further added that this was a matter that pertained to the status of a person after his conviction. “We will take appropriate action after reviewing the matter,” he said.
Rathore was convicted in 2009 of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra back in 1990 and was given a six month sentence by a trial court in Chandigarh. Three years after the molestation, Ruchika committed suicide. His sentence was later enhanced to 18 months in May 2010.
Row over Rathore sharing front row during the Republic Day function got sharp response from civil society activists and the family of Anand Parkash who have fought nearly two decades to get justice for Ruchika after her death in 1993.
Parkash’s daughter Aradhna, who was Ruchika’s childhood friend, along with her mother and other civil activists, arrived at the deputy commissioner’s office on Monday and submitted memorandum to seek apology from the district administration for making Rathore sit in the front row.
{{/usCountry}}Parkash’s daughter Aradhna, who was Ruchika’s childhood friend, along with her mother and other civil activists, arrived at the deputy commissioner’s office on Monday and submitted memorandum to seek apology from the district administration for making Rathore sit in the front row.
{{/usCountry}}“We have no problem with Rathore attending public functions, but inviting him on the stage and giving him due prominence in the front row is not acceptable to us,” said Aradhana Gupta.
The memorandum is submitted on behalf of Anand Parkash Samriti Sabha, which was recently formed by Anand’s family members and civil activists in his memory.