Rohtak: Haryana Minister of State for Cooperatives Manish Grover has courted controversy by offering guns, money and gunmen to residents of a village in the district while campaigning for the municipal elections.
The minister had gone to address a public meeting at Pahrawar village in the district on Friday in support of BJP nominee Monu Devi for the seat of municipal councillor from Ward No.10. He was told by some villagers that a rival candidate was roaming with a gun. At this, Grover told the villagers not to be afraid of anyone and offered them guns, money, gunmen and “whatever they wanted” till the conclusion of the municipal elections.
“Solah tareekh ki sham tak aapko koi kami nahi aaney doonga. Bandook chahiye, gunman chahiye, paisa chahiye, aur kuchh chahiye, wo bhi dene ko tayyar hoon,” the minister said as the gathering cheered.
On being contacted, Grover said “I merely told them not to be afraid of anyone and assured them of police security in case they felt threatened. The offer for guns and gunmen was made in that sense,” he stated.
The minister, however, failed to give any satisfactory reply as to why he offered guns and gunmen to the villagers instead of ensuring legal action against the candidate about whom the villagers had complained. Regarding the offer for money, he said that was made in context of preparation for the elections.
Meanwhile, local Congress leader and former Rohtak MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra has demanded legal action against Grover for making the said offers.
Terming it a violation of the model Code of Conduct, he said the State Election Commission should take cognizance of the matter and ban the minister from campaigning.
Senior Congress leader and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda-supported Rohtak mayoral candidate Sita Ram Sachdeva has lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission, requesting him to refrain Grover from campaigning in Rohtak and getting an FIR registered against him for inciting violence and violating the model code of conduct.
