Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who has been facing heat over his management of the Dera issue, on Sunday said the violence by the sect’s supporters could have turned much worse had the government not been alert.
Mr. Khattar told reporters that the State government had taken steps after due consideration in compliance with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
“Had the government not been alert, the situation could have been much worse,” he said in Karnal.
The Haryana government had come under attack for allowing a huge build-up of Dera Sacha Sauda followers in Panchkula.
Violence broke out after Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s conviction in rape cases, leaving 35 people dead. Six others died in related incidents of violence in Sirsa.
‘Acted with restraint’
On August 30, Mr. Khattar had ruled out his resignation after meeting BJP chief Amit Shah in Delhi, saying his government had acted with “restraint” in handling the situation.
Mr. Khattar said he would contest the next election from Karnal as the people of the constituency had accorded him a lot of respect.