Haryana: Gopal Kanda supports BJP, Uma Bharti talks about "values"
Gifted with a fractured verdict in Haryana, BJP reached out to independents to ensure it forms the next government. In its bid to keep the northern state to itself, BJP held a meeting with rape-accused MLA Gopal Kanda, who said that he would support the party. Evidently, this development upset senior leader Uma Bharti who asked BJP to remember its values. Here's what happened.
First, a quick recap about Kanda's controversial past
Kanda made it to headlines in 2012 after a 23-year-old air hostess named Geetika Sharma committed suicide. In her note, Geetika, who worked with now-defunct MDLR Airlines, said Kanda's harassment drove her to take the extreme step. Six months after the tragic incident, her mother also ended her life. After the case sparked outrage, Kanda was arrested and got bail in 2014.
Kanda flew to Delhi last night, said will support BJP
Yesterday, after BJP won 40 of 90 Assembly seats, Kanda, who won from Sirsa, flew down to Delhi for "discussions". He was accompanied by other independents. Confirming that a consensus has been reached, Kanda announced today, "We will support the BJP unconditionally. My father was in the RSS, so we are part of the family. We have all agreed to support the BJP."
Bharti isn't happy her party knocked doors of rape-accused
The recent development got BJP criticism from many quarters, and surprisingly even those within the party are not happy that Kanda's help is being sought. One of the first ones who voiced her opinion was Bharti, the National Vice President of BJP. Taking to Twitter, she urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to maintain distance from the controversial politician.
Bharti reminded about the serious allegations against Kanda
Bharti started her series of tweets, written in Hindi, by congratulating Devendra Fadnavis, Manohar Lal Khattar, Shah, and PM Modi, for winning Maharashtra and Haryana. She then reminded the leaders that Kanda is accused of abetting the suicide of two women, and it's best that the party doesn't get involved with him. "He is currently out on bail," she added.
Winning polls doesn't absolve anyone of crimes: Bharti
Saying that the court will decide whether Kanda is innocent or not, Bharti added that one can't be absolved of his crimes just because they won. "There are many factors in winning an election," she wrote. Expressing confidence that BJP will form a government in the northern state, Bharti appealed to the decision-making leaders to not compromise on ethics and values.
