BJP seeking to stay in power with support of criminals: Mann
Phagwara News: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab spokesperson and Phagwara constituency in-charge Harnoor Singh (Harji) Mann has questioned why the BJP government continues to show leniency towards self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is serving two concurrent 20-year sentences for raping two women and murdering a journalist.
Mann criticised the Haryana government’s latest recommendation to grant Ram Rahim 40 days’ parole for celebrating his birthday. He said such crimes are in no way deserving of mercy, yet over the past eight years, Ram Rahim has been released on parole 14 times.
Listing the instances, Mann said Ram Rahim was granted one-day parole in both 2020 and 2021, followed by 21 days in February 2022 during the Punjab Assembly elections, 30 days in June 2022 during Haryana municipal elections, and 40 days in October 2022 just before a Haryana by-election. “In just one year, this dangerous criminal was allowed 91 days outside prison to live a life of luxury,” he said.
In January 2023, Ram Rahim was released for 40 days during Haryana’s panchayat polls, followed by 30 days in July 2023 for Haryana by-panchayat elections, 21 days in November 2023 during Rajasthan Assembly polls, and 51 days in January 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, given his influence in parts of Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab.
Mann further said Ram Rahim was also given parole in August 2023 (21 days), October 2023 (20 days), January 2025 (30 days), and April 2025 (21 days), with each release coinciding with some election. “Now, he is being freed again for 40 days just to celebrate his birthday,” Mann added.
Calling the BJP’s repeated parole grants to Ram Rahim an “exposure of its real face,” Mann alleged the party seeks to enjoy power with the support of criminals. He also questioned the silence of Punjab BJP leaders, including state president Ashwani Sharma and Union minister Ravneet Bittu, over the parole issue, pointing out that the Akal Takht Sahib has declared Ram Rahim guilty before the entire Sikh Panth.
