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Ram Rahim verdict: Rajnath cuts short Kyrgyzstan visit by 3 hours, to take stock
Rajnath Singh held meetings with top officials including home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and intelligence bureau chief Rajiv Jain after violence over Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s conviction in a rape case.
Home minister Rajnath Singh cut short his visit to Kyrgyzstan by three hours to rush back to Delhi to attend to the situation arising out of the conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s conviction on rape
charges.
The home minister’s decision to advance his return came after his telephonic conversation with Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Haryana chief minister Manoharlal Khattar on Thursday evening.
He spoke to the two CMs again upon his return to New Delhi on Friday. He also spoke to Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to take stock of the preparedness by these state governments, given apprehensions that the violence unleashed by Ram Rahim’s followers could spill over to the neighbouring states.
“I spoke to both CMs. They apprised me of the situation. Adequate forces have been deployed and, if needed, more will be sent,” Rajnath said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was said to be keeping a close watch on the developing situation.
Rajnath was in the Kyrgyz republic to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation disaster management meet. Upon his return, he held a meeting with home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officials to discuss the situation.
Close to 170 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed across Punjab and Haryana. Officials added that 98 companies were sent to Haryana on Thursday night after apprehensions over violence erupting after the verdict.
“There were reports that followers of the sect had accumulated petrol and diesel as well as sharp weapons with an intention to destroy public property in case the verdict went against Ram Rahim. We have been assisting local police in their efforts to maintain peace, but right now the situation is chaotic. We are getting reports of violence across Haryana,” said a CRPF official.
