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Dera violence: Manohar Lal Khattar gives self a thumbs up

Whosoever is seeking (my resignation) may keep doing so. We did our job well. Now there is peace in Haryana, says Khattar

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Manohar Lal Khattar
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Defiant Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday patted his own back and rejected calls for his resignation amid mounting criticism over Friday's large-scale violence by Dera Sacha Sauda followers, claiming that his government dealt with the situation well.

"Jo maangta hai, woh mangta rahe. Humne apna kaam achhi tarah kiya thaa. Haryana mein ab shanti hai. (Whosoever is seeking (my resignation) may keep doing so. We did our job well. Now there is peace in Haryana)," the CM said bluntly after meeting BJP chief Amit Shah at the party's headquarters here on Wednesday.

Thirty-eight people had died, mostly in Haryana's Panchkula, where Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted of rape, in large-scale violence, arson and police firing.

The incidents took place after his followers rampaged across Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and NCR to protest the order.

"We have worked with restraint in this whole situation. Our main motive was to ensure peace before and after the verdict, and that is what we concentrated on," Khattar said.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had held the state government responsible for the violence that had also left hundreds of people wounded, besides causing tremendous damage to government and private property. The Haryana government seemed to have "surrendered before Dera followers for political considerations", the court had said.

Nearly all Opposition parties have demanded the Khattar government's dismissal for failing to control violence despite having prior knowledge of a massive build-up of Dera chief's bhakts.

Khattar briefed Shah about Haryana's situation and presented him with reports on the Dera, details of violence and steps taken by his government to restore peace, and claimed that his government complied with the High Court's order.

The High Court had directed both Haryana and Punjab to submit a list of Dera chief's properties and assets by Tuesday to use as compensation for losses caused during the violence. The victims have been directed to file claims for compensation by next week.

Khattar said the situation in Haryana is peaceful and fully in control of the government. "But we are still alert and are making sure that law and order is maintained in the state."

"We have taken necessary actions and followed the court's order. No one is above law, and everyone has to adhere to it," said Khattar, adding that Dera chief's adopted daughter Honeypreet Insaan had appealed to be allowed in the court and also inside jail as a helper but authorities did not give permission.

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