Nobody can take law & order in hands: CM

With the issue of illegal construction of a shrine by a minority community in the state capital threatening to vitiate communal harmony, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said every citizen, be it from any community or religion, will be treated equally in Himachal.

AIMIM chief Owaisi’s tweet

• The issue threatened to assume political overtones with AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi’s tweet.
• Owaisi tweeted raising the question is there a Congress or BJP government in Himachal. ‘Muhabbat ki dukaan mein nafrat hi nafrat’ he wrote while sharing video of remarks made by Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh in the Assembly.

With the issue threatening to assume political overtones with AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi tweeting about communal hatred being spread under Congress regime in Himachal, the Chief Minister issued a stern reaction on ensuring law and order and all citizens having equal rights.

Owaisi tweeted raising the question that is there a Congress or BJP government in Himachal. ‘Muhabbat ki dukaan mein nafrat hi nafrat’ he wrote while sharing video of remarks made by Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh in the Assembly. He objected to people from a particular community being referred to as ‘rohingyas’ and outsiders, stating that as citizens of the country they are free to live anywhere.

The issue had echoed in the Vidhan Sabha yesterday as locals had staged a protest against the illegal construction of a shrine by a minority community. Meanwhile, Anirudh Singh, who is in the centre of the controversy, said it was not a religious issue but it is about checking illegal construction. The issue of checking antecedents of unidentified migrants entering Himachal needs to be undertaken from security point of view, he added.

“No minister has given any such statement. We respect all regions and every citizen, irrespective of caste or community enjoys equal rights in the state,” he said. Sukhu made it amply clear that nobody will be allowed to take law and order in their hands.

Sukhu was also very categorical in stating that every citizen coming into Himachal has to abide by the law, which applies equally to the locals also. “People are welcome to hold a peaceful protest but nobody, be it a political or a religious leader, will be allowed to take law in their hands,” he asserted.

Urban Development Vikramaditya Singh said, “The government will not allow any unauthorised construction by anyone. People from outside are welcome but the first right over any kind of jobs is of the locals,” he said.

LoP Jai Ram Thakur said since it is clear that the shrine has been built on government land, government must take action.