The Leader of Opposition in Haryana assembly, Abhay Chautala opposed the decision of Akal Takht to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda Chief of blasphemy charges.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) party today opposed the decision of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat for Sikhs, to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of blasphemy charges, saying the Dera chief does not deserve exoneration.
"We strongly oppose it... There is no room for any pardon for a man who is booked under section 302 (murder) and 376 (rape) of IPC and who has also hurt the sentiments of Sikhs by dressing himself up as Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru," said Leader of Opposition in Haryana assembly and INLD lawmaker, Abhay Chautala.
Last week, the Akal Takht had pardoned the chief of the Sirsa-headquartered sect following a letter of apology from him, to put behind a bitter row between them. There has been criticism of the pardon by some Sikh organisations, some of them today observed a Punjab shutdown in protest against the decision of Akal Takht.
The opposition leader also lashed out at the Haryana government alleging that it has failed in ensuring purchase of paddy in the state for the Kharif season, as a result of which growers are upset who are unable to sell their produce.
He also hit out at the government for higher electricity bills being received by consumers. "The state government has raised energy by 43 per cent in clandestine manner," he alleged.
Mr Chautala also said that INLD was organising 'Samman Diwas' on November 1 marking the birth anniversary of party's founder leader Chaudhary Devi Lal in Rohtak, and has invited Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav for the event.
Earlier, the party had planned to organise the event at Ram Leela Maidan in Delhi, but it could not get the space on that day for holding the progamme.