CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on August  26

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its serious concern over the violence that has crippled the state of Haryana resulting in the death of over 35 people and serious injuries to over 250 persons.

Supporters of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect went on a rampage after their chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted in a rape case by a CBI special court. These supporters were converging at Panchkula where the CBI Special court is located for the past few days in anticipation of the verdict.

Despite having this knowledge and widespread apprehension of trouble and violence, the BJP government and the chief minister of Haryana did not take adequate preventive measures. This serious dereliction of duty by the state government created a situation of complete breakdown of law and order.

Earlier it was reported that the chief minister and the BJP MLAs visited this ‘godman’, to seek his blessings. This reflects the sympathetic manner in which the BJP sought to deal with the situation.

This is the third occasion when the BJP state government has failed to protect the lives of innocent people and damage of public and private properties. It happened in the controversy over Rampal Case, the Jat agitation and now this development. Clearly the state government in Haryana has lost its authority to continue. Even the Haryana High Court had directed the state government to take all required measures. It expressed apprehensions regarding the state government’s track record in the past. The state government was warned not to repeat such mistakes.

The Haryana state government and the chief minister cannot remain in office and the chief minister must be immediately sacked.