ML Khattar government may compensate the families of Dera supporters who died on August 25.

In a surprise development, the Manohar Lal Khattar government of Haryana is planning to compensate the families of the troublemakers who vandalised Panchkula after conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and were killed in action by security forces.

Compensation is usually given by the state governments when police or security forces err in carrying out their job resulting in damage to people's lives or property. But, the informed sources have said that Haryana government has mooted the plan to compensate the families of the Dera followers, who were killed on August 25.

Sources said that Haryana Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij raised the issue in the recent Cabinet meeting. But, all members of Khattar cabinet are not in favour of giving compensation to the families of those killed during Panchkula and Sirsa arson.

DERA DISTANCED ITSELF

On the other hand, the Dera has distanced itself from those killed during action saying they were not its followers. Under such circumstances, the Haryana government's plan to compensate their families may boomerang on it.

Dera Sacha Sauda Management chairperson Vipassana Insan had, before going underground, said that the anti -social elements, who torched vehicles and attacked journalists were not its followers.

Interestingly, investigation into the largescale arson, which followed conviction of Ram Rahim in a rape and sexual exploitation case in Panchkula and other places, has revealed that Dera Sacha Sauda had spent nearly Rs crore "to hire goons" for creating trouble in Haryana.

KHATTAR GOVT IN DOCK

The Haryana government is already facing tough questions for diluting imposition of CrPC Section 144 in Panchkula to prevent Dera followers from gathering in the city in thousands.

After Jat agitation, this is the second time that the Haryana government of Manohar Lal Khattar seems to be bowing to the tactics adopted by some anti-social elements.

Sources say that Haryana government may announce compensation to the families of goons killed in police action on August 25 soon. The state government is preparing grounds to compensate the Dera followers.

BUT THERE IS OPPOSITION

However, some members of the Khattar cabinet are against the idea of compensating the families of those killed in police action. While pro-Dera ministers like Anil Vij and Ram Bilas Sharma are in favour of giving compensation, almost half of the cabinet has opposed the move.

The issue has, in fact, divided Khattar cabinet. Though the ministers opposing compensation to the Dera followers have not made their anguish public, but the cracks are visible.

Haryana cabinet is facing similar situation which it faced during February last year during that Jat agitation when 31 protesters were killed in police action. Now, Anil Vij argues if the families of Jat agitators, who lost their lives, can be compensated there is nothing wrong in doing the same in the case of Dera supporters.

Anil Vij has demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of Dera followers killed in police action.

"I am asking for the compensation on humanitarian grounds as the people killed during the police actions were human beings. When the government can compensate the Jat agitators, why not the Dera followers," asked Anil Vij.

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