Satsang was organized by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a rape convict who was released on 40-day parole from Haryana’s Sunaria jail. According to media reports, many Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Haryana participated in this online satsang. There are reports of many BJP leaders including Karnal Mayor Renu Bala Gupta attending the event. Ram Rahim addressed online satsang from his ashram in Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh.
In the viral video, Karnal Mayor Renu Bala can be heard referring to the bypolls and inviting Ram Rahim to the state. She said via video calling, “Pitaji Ji (Ram Rahim) may your blessings be upon. Karnal has progressed with your message of cleanliness. May you keep your blessings with Karnal.” Apart from Renu Bala, other leaders including Deputy Mayor Naveen Kumar and Senior Deputy Mayor Rajesh Aggi also participated in this online program.
The opposition has pulled up the BJP soon after a video surfaced of Karnal Mayor seeking blessings from self-styled godman, convicted of rape and murder. It is alleged that Ram Rahim has been given parole to influence the upcoming by-elections and panchayat elections in Haryana. Significantly, the by-election to Adampur assembly seat in Haryana is to be held on November 3. Panchayat elections will also be held on November 9 and 12 in nine districts of the state.
Also read: Ahead Of Adampur By-Election, Rape Convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Gets 40 Days Parole
TMC MP Mahua Moitra tweeted, “What next! BJP declaring ‘Rape Day’ as a national holiday? Rape convict Ram Rahim gets parole again, several Haryana BJP leaders attend satsang.”
Gurmeet Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his female disciples at his ashram in Sirsa. The self-styled godman was convicted by a special CBI court in 2017. Ram Rahim and four others were also convicted for the conspiracy to kill Dera manager Ranjit Singh in 2021. In 2019, he was also convicted for the murder of a journalist.