Chandigarh stalking case: Congress attacks Modi, Khattar for missing footage

The 'missing' videos from CCTV cameras in Chandigarh stalking incident on Sunday provided ammunition for Congress' attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Congress accused the Central and the state governments of conspiring to hush up the matter to protect the Haryana BJP President Subhash Barala and his son Vikas Barala. Vikas was arrested last week for stalking a young lady in Chandigarh.

“Even before you have registered a case under correct sections, the CCTV footage has gone. Does it not show that the Union government is giving diktats to protect the Haryana BJP president and his son,” Randeep Singh Surjewala, the chief AICC spokesperson told reporters here.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi condemned the attempt to kidnap and outrage the modesty of a young lady in Chandigarh. “BJP government must punish the guilty; not collude with culprits and mindset they represent,” Rahul said.

Reports said that CCTV footage from five locations on the route taken by the young lady were missing.

Surjewala also accused the Centre of trying to dilute the FIR against Vikas Barla by dropping the relevant section pertaining to attempt to abduct, which he claimed was a non-bailable offence.

“The Union home ministry, which directly controls UT Administration and UT Police of Chandigarh, is conspiring to hush up the entire matter so as to protect the Haryana State BJP president and his son,” he said.

Surjewala also accused Chandigarh Police DSP Satish Kumar, probing the case, of changing his statement within hours, allegedly at the behest of the Central government.

He accused the BJP of adopting double standards, saying when a similar incident happened involving the son of a senior minister in Haryana government a few years ago, the current Home Minister as the then National BJP President had demanded his resignation, which the Congress had accepted.