New Delhi: A fresh controversy was sparked after several leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party including Karnal Mayor attended an online congregation meeting by rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Wednesdsy, reported news agency ANI. Ram Rahim, who is serving a jail term after being convicted in rape and murder cases was released from Sunaria jail on a 40-day parole.
The Opposition demanded a justification from the BJP over its leaders’ participation in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Karnal mayor Renu Bala Gupta, deputy mayor Naveen Kumar and senior deputy mayor Rajesh Aggi are continuously trying to defend their participation in the event.
The senior Deputy Mayor said, "I was invited to the Satsang by the 'sadh sangat'. Online Satsang was done from UP. Many people in my ward are associated with Baba. We reached the program from social connections and it has nothing to do with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the upcoming bypoll election."
Notably, the Adampur bypoll in Haryana is scheduled to be held on November 3. Besides, the state is also scheduled to hold panchayat polls soon.
Deputy Mayor Naveen Kumar also tried to justify his participation by saying that everyone who got information about the satsang reached there.
On the question of taking the blessings of Ram Rahim to win the election, Naveen said that the people have chosen him from their ward and only the public decides this. "It is necessary to have the blessings of the people," Naveen said.
Speaking about Dera chief's parole, he said that anyone could seek parole at his own pleasure. "He may have taken parole for the festival of Diwali and we should not equate it with elections," he added.
Notably, the opposition also alleged that Ram Rahim was granted parole due to the forthcoming bypolls.