The Punjab and Haryana High Court has hit out at Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for allowing Haryana to burn for political gains, a day after Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's conviction in a rape case by a CBI court in Panchkula led to violent clashes across the state.

Over 30 people have been killed in Haryana and 250 others injured. The Army, in a joint operation with the police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel stormed into the Dera headquarters Sirsa today to clear the area of the sect's cadres.

Dera supporters protested against the court ruling, torching several vehicles and indulging in violence. Several people were left injured as the police failed to rein in the protesters, leading to a complete breakdown of law and order in the state.

Khattar is believed to be close to Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Before Khattar became the chief minister in 2014, Rahim had openly rooted for him and promised him support from Dera followers.

Hence, his apparent reluctance to take any stern action against Dera supporters, who were key to his coming to power, cannot be denied.

Even before the verdict came out on Friday, there were serious questions raised over the ability of the police to control Dera followers, who had gathered in large numbers in Panchkula and refused to leave, despite the imposition of Section 144 there that prevents the assembly of five or more people.

BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj, in a shocking remark yesterday, had defended Rahim even after the CBI special court verdict in Panchkula convicted him in a 15-year-old rape case. Maharaj had said, "I respect the judiciary but I want to say that crores of people are supporting Ram Rahim, and only one person is complaining against him. Is one person right or are crores of people right?"

Despite Khattar's evident mishandling of with the situation, it has been learnt from sources that the BJP has thrown its weight behind the under-fire chief minister, saying that there is no question of replacing him in the wake of the violence that followed the verdict against the Dera chief. This isn't the first occasion when Khattar's ability to acquit himself as an able administrator has been exposed. Even during the Jat agitation earlier, the chief minister had failed to curb protests and prevent clashes.

CONGRESS DEMANDS KHATTAR's RESIGNATION

Meanwhile, the Congress has demanded Khattar's resignation. Tweeting from its official account, the party was quoted as saying, "@PMOIndia must put the interest and safety of Indians before his party's interests. @mlkhattar must resign".

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala tweeted, "Reckless violence, deaths and destruction in Haryana proves the complete breakdown of law and order. Time for CM Haryana to own responsibility and quit (sic)."

Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi also condemned the "rampage and lawlessness" in Haryana and urged people to restore peace and tranquillity. Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda too appealed for peace but said the government should have been prepared.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said that Khattar should be sacked if he doesn't resign taking responsibility for the violence and complete breakdown of the law and order situation in the state.

"Ultimately it is the chief minister and his cabinet who are responsible for law and order in their state. The violence in the Haryana after the verdict shows the complete failure of the Khattar government and he should be sacked," Tharoor said.

"Where was the Haryana government? How could they allow people to gather? Everybody could see that they were preparing for violence. Why didn't the Haryana government impose Section 144 (of the CrPC) and control the situation. The management failed and the buck has to stop somewhere. Enough is enough," Tharoor said.

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