Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has sought parole for 42 days for farming on his land in Sirsa.
The 51-year-old, who is currently lodged at Sunaria jail in Rohtak, has been behind bars since 2017 after being convicted in two rape cases and, more recently, the murder of a journalist.
Following his application for the parole, the jail superintendent has written to the Sirsa district administration recommending his parole for “good behaviour” in a letter dated June 18.
When asked for his comment recently, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said: “Anyone who is entitled for parole can seek one. We cannot stop anyone".
Asked about who would be responsible in case violence breaks out if the Dera chief was granted parole, Khattar said: "You are trying to draw inference on your own as if any decision has been taken."
After news of the jail superintendent's recommendation started circulating, some said the move was politically motivated.
As the day wore on, #DontSpareRapistBaba started trending on Twitter, encapsulating the public sentiment.
Twitter reactions:
Don't lie, you're dying to see this fine specimen in the Parliament, aren't you? Bolo, bolo!#DontSpareRapistBaba pic.twitter.com/B1sek8F7WO
— Amit Schandillia (@AmitSchandillia) June 24, 2019
- He is in jail for rape, castration and murder.
— Bharat Ek Mauj (@BharatEkMauj) June 24, 2019
- He might get released soon because he wants to do "agriculture".
- His million of followers cast their vote on his command.
- Also Haryana's assembly elections will be held in a couple of months.#DontSpareRapistBaba pic.twitter.com/RGbg3x4VCQ
#DontSpareRapistBaba A rapist is a rapist. But Baba Ram Rahim is A SERIAL RAPIST. A HARDCORE CRIMINAL. A POWERFUL PERSON.
— Mohammed Jaleel Kashif (@jaleelmdkashif) June 24, 2019
Parole should not be granted to him.
It will send a wrong signal to the Society.
It will also create a bad precedent. pic.twitter.com/WjFBOiIg1j
How will rapes stop if the government backs the rapists??#DontSpareRapistBaba
— Piya Kaur Bajaj (@piyakaurbajaj22) June 24, 2019
#DontSpareRapistBaba on one hand u want to do beti bacaho n beti parao and on the other hand u free Rapists.. baffling !!
— Amit Chatterjee (@am_x_it) June 24, 2019