Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar calls harassment claim anargal, under fire

CHANDIGARH: As the chorus for the ouster of sports minister Sandeep Singh grows, Manohar Lal Khattar's 'anargal' (unrestrained) remark on the issue has triggered a row with the opposition parties seeking an "unconditional apology" from the Haryana chief minister.
While interacting with mediapersons after attending a function in Rajasthan on Tuesday, Khattar said: Ek yuva khiladi ne anargal aarop lagaye hain (A young athlete has made unrestrained allegations). Aarop lagane se koi vyakti doshi nahi ho jata hai, aage police chhanbeen karti hai (a person can't be pronounced guilty just by making allegations; the police do investigate the matter).
Chandigarh police chhanbeen kar rahi hai (the Chandigarh police are investigating the matter). Jaise report aayege, aage karenge (as soon as the report comes, we will forward it). Khel vibhag se unhone apne aap ko door kar liya hai (he (the accused) has separated himself from the sports department).
Minister of state for sports, Sandeep Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by a junior woman coach of the Haryana sports department.
"The CM is the custodian of the state. He is heading the state, which had kicked off the campaign for 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao'. This kind of statement is never expected from a head of state, especially when a daughter is running from pillar to post to get justice.
The CM should have either kept mum or should have assured justice for the victim," said Geeta Bhukkal, senior Congress MLA and former minister of Haryana. "This is how the BJP and its leaders think about women. You can't expect justice this way," she said.
Sunaina Chautala, secretary general of the women wing of INLD, also flayed Khattar. "How will such a victim get justice, when the CM himself is bent upon protecting the minister, who is accused of sexual misconduct? The CM should tender an unconditional apology. The way the statement has been made, he has clearly made a stand in favour of the accused minister," she said.
National coordinator of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Anurag Dhanda termed the CM's statement "a clear indication" to the probe agencies of Haryana and the Chandigarh police. "When a CM of the state uses such words for the victim and makes judgmental statements, this will clearly convey a message to the investigation agency on the stand of the state and its leadership. Such a move benefits the accused. But we will not give it up," he said.
Jat leaders led by national convenor of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) Ashok Balhara also sought immediate sacking of Sandeep Singh and justice for the victim.