Karontha incident a 'failure' of Hooda government: INLD

CHANDIGARH: Haryana's main opposition party INLD on Wednesday blamed the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government for Sunday's violence in Karontha village, saying that the administration had failed to heed the warning signs and allowed the situation to slip out of control.

"It is a complete failure of the Hooda government... and failure on part of the chief minister and his son ((Rohtak MP Deepinder Singh) to react in time to the (developments).

"The incident occurred in the backyard of the CM's home district and the administration still failed to act in time," senior Indian National Lok Dal leader and MLA, Abhay Singh Chautala, told reporters here.

The disputed ashram at the heart of the tensions between the followers of the Satlok Ashram and the Arya Samaj supporters here was today sealed by local authorities.

But the situation remained tense in Karontha village in Rohtak, where a clash between police and protesters on Sunday left three dead and over 100 injured.

Police had to use force to prevent members of the Arya Samaj from marching to the ashram, headed by self-styled godman Rampal, over a possession dispute.

Chautala said the party will meet Governor Jagannath Pahadia and seek the dismissal of the Hooda government for its failure to deal satisfactorily with the Karontha situation.

The party has already demanded the chief minister's resignation over the issue on moral grounds.

"No effort was made by the state government to reach out (either) to the Arya Samaj or the ashram. If talks had been held with both sides, the loss of lives and injuries could have been avoided," added Chautala.