Chautala wants President's rule imposed in Haryana

Attacking the Haryana government over the controversy involving state minister Gopal Kanda, opposition Indian National Lok Dal on Monday alleged that "criminal elements" were getting political patronage and demanded imposition of President's rule in the state.

"Sunday's incident in which Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda's name figures is not an isolated one. Over the past several months, there have been a series of incidents, which indicate that the ruling party cares less for upholding the rule of law and criminal elements are ruling the roost," INLD President and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said at a press conference in Chandigarh.

In a letter to Governor Jagannath Pahadia, Chautala demanded that the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in Haryana should be dismissed and President's rule imposed in the state.

"Later, fresh elections should be held," he said.

23-year-old former air hostess Geetika Sharma, who quit Kanda's company recently, allegedly committed suicide at her Ashok Vihar residence in north-west Delhi, depressed over continuing mental harassment allegedly by 46-year-old Kanda.

"Geetika was also a trustee in Kanda's MDLR international school in Sirsa," Chautala claimed.

46-year-old Kanda, an independent MLA from Sirsa, resigned as the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Urban Bodies and Industry and Commerce, on Sunday night.

At one time, Kanda was close to the Chautalas, but following a rift with them, he contested as an Independent candidate from Sirsa, and won.

He provided unconditional support to the Congress after it fell short by six seats in the 90-member Haryana assembly following the 2009 polls and also ensured support of other six Independents enabling the party to form the government in Haryana.

When asked if he would also ask for a probe on how Gopal Kanda had risen to become a multi-millionaire from just owning a small shoe factory in Sirsa just a decade back, Chautala said, "it is for the Income Tax authorities and other government agencies to investigate".