Haryana Assembly Election: Former Minister Manish Grover Threatens SP Himanshu Garg, Election Commission Seeks Report from DC
Manish Grover, a former minister and senior BJP leader in Haryana, is facing serious allegations just weeks before the state’s Assembly elections. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Haryana has called for an investigation into claims that Grover threatened the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Rohtak and led an unauthorized protest with his supporters.
On August 25, Grover and a large group of his followers staged a protest outside the Rohtak SP’s office and residence. This demonstration, which took place after the Election Commission had announced the election code of conduct on August 16, was not permitted and caused significant disruption in the area. Reports indicate that some protesters even clashed with the police, further escalating the situation.
क्यो नही खून खोलता वैश्य समाज का?
— Aggarwal Vaish Samaj Haryana (@samaj_vaish) August 30, 2024
एक पूर्व मंत्री हमारे IPS हिमांशु गर्ग को ललकार रहा हैं
जब तक हम सब मिलकर हिमांशु के साथ नही खड़े होंगे तब तक समाज की एकता को बल नही दे सकते। हम आह्वान करते है कि रोहतक का ही नही पूरे हरियाणा का वैश्य समुदाय मनीष ग्रोवर का बहिष्कार करे #Rohtak pic.twitter.com/XOVpakiZkx
A video showing Grover allegedly threatening the Rohtak SP has circulated widely on social media, prompting complaints to the Election Commission of India. In the video, Grover is seen using harsh language toward the police chief, raising concerns about the behavior of political leaders during the election period.
Karan Singh Narang, a lawyer representing the Congress party, lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission on August 27, accusing Grover of violating election rules and undermining local governance. Following this, the Chief Electoral Officer requested the Rohtak Deputy Commissioner to investigate the allegations and submit a report by August 30.
The complaint also alleges that Grover publicly accused the SP of wrongdoing, which, according to the complaint, is not only a breach of election rules but also an attempt to coerce the police into filing a criminal case, which is deemed inappropriate.
Responding to the allegations, Grover claimed that he was merely urging the SP to take action on a complaint filed by a Dalit woman worker. Grover alleged that Congress workers, including the son of a local politician, had mistreated the woman. He stated that the woman had attempted to file a police report but was made to wait for hours without any resolution.
Grover defended his actions by stating that he was reminding the SP that during election periods, the police are expected to operate under the Election Commission’s guidelines rather than the government’s directives. He asserted that he advised the SP that a police report should be filed, with the matter to be addressed after the formation of the new government.
This incident has sparked concerns about the conduct of political leaders as Haryana prepares for its Assembly elections, scheduled for October 1, with results to be announced on October 4. The prompt response from the Chief Electoral Officer in ordering an investigation underscores the seriousness with which election officials are treating these allegations. The case highlights the need for politicians to adhere to proper procedures and maintain peace during the election campaign, especially in interactions with law enforcement.
