Sunday, September 16, 2018
  • Chandigarh, September 16: Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal today cancelled all his programmes at Punjab and came back to Chandigarh to review the progress on investigation of Rewari gang-rape case. He directed the Director General of Police, Mr B.S. Sandhu to ensure arrest of all accused at the earliest.
  • Meanwhile, Mr Rahul Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Security has been posted as SP, Rewari in place of Mr Rajesh Duggal.
  •  Earlier in the morning interacting with the media persons at Pathankot on his way to Chandigarh, Mr Manohar Lal highly condemned the Rewari gang-rape incident and said that accused in the case would not be spared at any cost. The police has registered the case against all the three accused after identifying them and they would be nabbed soon.
  • The Chief Minister said that in this case, all the three accused are known to the victim and it is most unfortunate when any known is involved in such a gruesome and heinous incident. He said that out the three accused, one is serving in the Army, which is even more unfortunate. A reward of Rs one lakh has been announced on them and they would be nabbed soon, he added.
  • When asked to comment on the issue of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, Mr Manohar Lal said that the issue has been hanging fire since long. As per the water sharing agreement, Haryana’s share in the Ravi-Beas water is 3.5 MAF but we are getting less water. The present State government has strongly pleaded the case in the Supreme Court (SC) and as a result of this, the Apex Court has given its decision in favour of Haryana. Now, the Supreme Court is to pass the execution order in the case.
  • When asked to comment on the statement made by INLD that BJP and Congress are hand in glove on the issue of SYL, the Chief Minister refuted the allegations saying that we are working for the people’s welfare and would continue doing same.
  • When his attention was drawn towards a major portion of river water of Punjab flowing to Pakistan, the Chief Minister said that this water should be restricted from flowing to Pakistan as it would not only be in the interest of Haryana and Punjab but benefit other States also.
  • Asked to comment whether the launch of second leg of Swachta Abhiyan by Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi  yesterday can be seen as Party’s preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, the Chief Minister said that Swachta Abhiyan and Parliamentary Elections are two different thing. The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi  had launched the Swachta Abhiyan in the country in 2014 under which towns and villages are being made Open Defecation Free (ODF). Haryana has already been declared ODF and now we are heading towards achieving the status of ODF+. Besides the government, it is also the responsibility of the people to come forward and contribute in ensuring cleanliness in their cities and villages.  He also urged the people and politicians to take up the cleanliness drive and said that media could also play a vital role in making this campaign a huge success.
  • The Chief Ministers said that during his visit to Jammu yesterday, he paid obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi and laid the foundation stone of a CBSE school at Nowshera.
  • Mr Manohar Lal was on a two day visit to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab to attend programmes, he was invited to attend as Chief Guest. However, he cancelled all his programmes and came back to Chandigarh.