Rampal issue: Congress condemns attack on media persons

New Delhi, Nov 18: Congress on Tuesday condemned the "attack" on media personnel during a clash at 'godman' Rampal’s ashram in Hisar in Haryana and demanded an apology from Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar over it.

"The attack on media at Sant Rampal’s ashram in Hisar is unacceptable and extremely unfortunate. Reporters and cameramen have been brutally beaten up and injured by the police in mindless lathi charge.

"This assault on media is a demonstration of the fact that Haryana government did not wish to be put under media scrutiny in handling the Hisar ashram crisis," AICC general secretary and communication department chief Ajay Maken said.

He demanded apology from the Chief Minister and an explanation as to how and why "such brutal action" was sanctioned.

"This high handedness and brutal attitude of the BJP government in dealing with the media is only indicative of the threats that our democracy faces," Maken said.

While condemning "this attack on media", he said the Congress stands in solidarity with the mediapersons. His remarks came after several persons, including security and media personnel, were injured as clashes erupted at the ashram of controversial 'godman' Rampal in Barwala in Hisar today.

Media crews faced the brunt of the violence that left some of them injured while cameras of many private electronic news channels were broken.

Police said that many security personnel had also been injured in the violence as there was firing and stonepelting from the ashram side, with some followers making last-ditch attempts to thwart the forces from storming the premises.

PTI