Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday ruled out stepping down from the post despite widespread criticism and court strictures over violence and loss of lives in the State last weekened.

Violence triggered by the sentencing of godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had left 38 dead in the State.

The BJP’s top leaders have already refused to sack Khattar. After calling on BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday afternoon the Haryana CM confidently addressed the media.

“Let whoever is asking for resignation, continue to ask. Whatever we did was right. There will be no change. We are satisfied with out work,” he said, informing reporters that he had submitted a report to Shah on the law and order situation in the State.

Meanwhile, the Congress attacked the BJP central leadership and Khattar for allowing the situation to go out of control. Addressing the media, the former Haryana CM and Congress veteran Bhupinder Singh Hooda said: “The situation could have easily been avoided. But due to the government’s negligence or for safeguarding votebank, nothing was done.”

While 38 people were killed, mostly in police firing, and over 200 injured in the rioting by Ram Rahim’s supporters in Panchkula and several other cities of Haryana, Khattar defended his handling of the situation.

It has been reported that Ram Rahim, who heads the powerful Dalit Sikh sect Dera Sacha Sauda, had not wanted to come out of his Sirsa headquarters for the court hearing, in which the sentence on his trial for rape was to be pronounced on August 25.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had criticised the State government for allowing thousands of the godman’s followers in Panchkula before the sentencing. The followers were apparently allowed to gather as a show of support to Ram Rahim so that he could be convinced to get out of his headquarters. The government apparently decided that the situation would be far more complex and volatile if Ram Rahim kept himself closeted in his headquarters. The CM justified the decision.

“The government’s first task was to ensure that he (Ram Rahim) appeared before the court in Panchkula. We achieved our aim,” said Khattar.

To a question on his party courting the Dera chief for political support, Khattar said political parties sought everyone’s cooperation. “Nobody is above the law,” he said, claiming that his government had no deal with the Dera chief, as was being alleged.

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