Sack minister Sandeep Singh or face agitation, Khaps warn Haryana government

A khap panchayat here on Monday threatened to launch a big agitation if Haryana minister Sandeep Singh who has been booked for sexually harassing a woman coach is not sackedSingh on Sunday gave up his Sports portfolio saying he has taken the step on moral grounds and claimed that the charges against him are baselessThe former India hockey captain said he has handed over the charge of the sports department to Chief Minister M L K Khattar However he has not resigned from the BJPled Haryana ministryA panchayat of 12 Dhankar khaps or caste councils was held in a village in the district and attended by representatives of khaps and social organisationsAccording to a khap representative the meeting urged the state government to ensure justice for the coach at the earliest and sack the minister If the government fails to do this the khaps will launch a big movement he saidHe said the meeting demanded that Singh should be sacked immediately by the chief minister as he could influence the investigations if he continues to be a minister in the governmentSome khap members also felt that a committee set up on the orders of the Haryana Director General of Police would serve no purpose as the Chandigarh Police is already investigating the caseAlso Read Womans body dragged by car AAP stages protest outside Delhi LGs residenceMeanwhile Indian National Lok Dal leader and MLA Abhay Singh Chautala said the Haryana committee was only an attempt to save the ministerWhen the Chandigarh police has registered an FIR and is investigating the case for what purpose has this Haryana committee been set up he askedSenior Congress leader Kumari Selja also questioned Singhs move to give up the Sports departmentIt is CMs prerogative which department is to be given to whom or taken back What is the meaning of a minister giving up a department He should have resigned or else the CM should have sacked him Selja said demanding an impartial probeThe Chandigarh police on Saturday registered an FIR against the 36yearold BJP leader on charges of sexual harassment and wrongful confinementA former Olympian and a firsttime MLA from Pehowa in Kurukshetra Sandeep Singh also holds the Printing and Stationery DepartmentThe Haryana Director General of Police set up a committee after Singh lodged a complaint against the coach claiming she had tarnished his imageThe minister said he is handing over his Sports portfolio to the chief minister on moral grounds till the committee gives its report He claimed the allegations levelled against him are baseless and called for an independent probeThe Chandigarh Police booked the minister under IPC sections 354 assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty 354A sexual harassment 354B compelling her to be naked 342 wrongful confinement and 506 criminal intimidationThe junior athletics coach has accused the minister of touching her inappropriately and even tearing her TshirtThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever