Hooda ‘disowns’ Kanda, tells him to join inquiry

Facing flak from both, the Opposition and his own party men for failing to rein in his ministers, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday 'disowned' absconding former minister and Independent MLA Gopal Goyal Kanda who has been booked in a case of abetment to suicide of a former airhostess.

"He (Kanda) is an independent MLA and not a party man. One individual's act does not affect the government," Hooda said, exuding confidence that the position of his government was on a strong footing.

Replying to media queries on Kanda going incommunicado following former airhostess Geetika Sharma naming him in her suicide note, Hooda said the former minister, who continued to evade the police for the third consecutive day, should join the investigations.

"I am a law-abiding man. Anybody (whose name crops up in any case) should join investigations," Hooda said.

On being asked whether the Haryana Police was sheltering Kanda, as was being alleged by the opposition parties, Hooda shot back: "He was a minister and has resigned. The government has nothing to do with him. The case is with the Delhi Police. Law will take its own course."

Meanwhile, main opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) reiterated its demand to dismiss the Haryana government for allegedly sheltering Kanda.

"Instead of helping the police nab Kanda, the state government is trying to shield him by erasing valid proofs against the culprit," INLD supremo Om Parkash Chautala said in a statement

He alleged that the Hooda government was working overtime to protect Kanda. "The entire government machinery is helping Kanda and he is also being provided legal aid by the state government," Chautala said, asking why the security provided to Kanda has not been withdrawn despite he being declared a proclaimed offender.

... contd.

ALSO READ

'Shootout At Wadala' producer Ekta Kapoor apologises, Valmiki Samaj unperturbed

Theatres in Punjab cancel 'Shootout at Wadala' shows

Rail traffic hit due to protests over Sajjan's acquittal

Family of 1971 POW awaits his return from Pak, fears for his life