Chandigarh: On Monday, a new video surfaced from Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s Jan Samvad programme in Sirsa. In the video, a woman sarpanch can be seen throwing her dupatta at the CM’s feet, seemingly expressing her frustration over her grievances being ignored.
This incident followed the circulation of two other videos from his ongoing Jan Samvad — during which people share their grievances with the CM and he helps resolve them promptly. In one video, Khattar was purportedly heard instructing security guards to forcefully remove and “beat up” an individual he suspected to be an “AAP worker”. Another video showed him dismissing a woman’s concerns as being rehearsed or “tutored”.
On the final day of the Jan Samvad programme in Sirsa district Monday, Khattar was listening to people’s grievances at Bani village when the incident happened.
Naina Jhorar, the woman sarpanch of the village, was reading out the demands of the village when Khattar purportedly told her to list only one major demand.
“Your government gave 50 per cent quota to women in the Panchayati Raj elections and I got the opportunity to become the sarpanch. But what is the use of my post when I am not even allowed to raise the demands of my electorates?” Jhorar is seen telling the CM in the video.
She goes on to say that “My husband suffered fractures in an attack at the behest of the person I defeated. But the police are yet to take action on our complaint and have rather booked us in a false case. And now, when I am trying to read out the demands of my village, I am being stopped.”
At this, Khattar in the video is seen telling her that he doesn’t want to listen to “behasbaazi” (arguments).
“Aap meri nahi sunte, koi baat nahi. Mere pati par jaan leva hamla hua tha. Ek aurat ki, ek Hindustani aurat ki izzat uske duppatte mein hoti hai. Yeh lo isse, yeh hai ek Hindustani aurat ka dupatta (You don’t listen to me, never mind. My husband was attacked. A woman’s, an Indian woman’s honour lies in her dupatta. Take this, this is an Indian woman’s dupatta),” the sarpanch said in the video, throwing her dupatta on Khattar’s feet.
Following this, security persons, mostly women, immediately escorted Jhorar off the dais, as the CM is heard telling them to take her away.
Speaking to ThePrint, Jhorar said that as a sarpanch of the village, she brought villagers for the meeting with the CM.
“However, when I was asked to narrate the demands of the village, I started reading out. I was told that I should convey just one demand. How can I single out one demand when people who elected me expect me to raise all their grievances?” Jhorar said.
ThePrint reached Khattar’s media adviser Amit Arya on call and WhatsApp messages, but got no response. The story will be updated if and when a response is received.
Also Read: ‘Will give befitting reply’: Sarpanches intensify stir against Khattar govt after lathi charge
Attack on husband
Recalling the attack on her husband, Jhorar told ThePrint that it was only because of the government’s announcement of 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) that she could become sarpanch of Bani village.
“However, the family I defeated started nursing a grouse and a murderous attack was made on my husband Sanjeev Jhorar in January this year,” she said, adding that he suffered three fractures and that three of his companions were also injured.
Jhorar alleged that when they approached the police, instead of taking any action on the complaint, her husband was booked under IPC Section 452 (criminal trespass).
“The opposite side has the backing of a ruling-party politician. If as sarpanch I can’t get justice for my husband, what justice can I promise to those who elected me?” Jhorar said.
When ThePrint contacted Udai Singh Meena, Superintendent of Police, Sirsa, he said police received cross-complaints from both parties and FIRs were registered.
“There were no grievous injuries on either side. The FIR under IPC Section 452 was registered against the sarpanch’s husband going on the complaint of the other party. But no arrest has been made on either side so far,” the officer said.
He added that, considering the intricacy of the case, he assigned an inquiry into the matter to Assistant Superintendent of Police, Deepti Garg, an IPS officer. “She is likely to submit her report soon,” said Meena.
Asked about Jhorar’s allegations that her husband suffered three fractures, he said the claims are yet to be verified.
“Maybe he suffered some fractures on his fingers etc, but the medico-legal report clearly said there was no life-threatening injury on either side,” the SP added.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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