Several Haryana BJP leaders attended the satsang of rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim

Religious leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, sentenced to 20 years in prison for rape and murder, hosted a virtual 'satsang' program on Wednesday. Many politicians including the Mayor of Karnal in Haryana and several leaders of the ruling BJP were among the guests. Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim was convicted in 2017. He was granted parole for 40 days last week following an application filed by his family. He hosted the satsang from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier in June, the Dera chief had come out of jail on parole for a month. Earlier he was given three weeks leave in February.

The opposition attacked Ram Rahim for his participation in the program of BJP leaders. The opposition alleged that the influential spiritual leader has been granted parole to influence the by-polls and panchayat elections in Haryana due next month. According to news agency ANI, BJP leaders who attended the satsang included Karnal Mayor Renu Bala Gupta, Deputy Mayor Naveen Kumar and Senior Deputy Mayor Rajesh Aggi besides many other candidates preparing for the elections.

Naveen Kumar said, "I was invited to the satsang on behalf of 'Sadh Sangat'. Online satsang was done from UP. Many people in my ward are connected to Baba. We reached the program through social connection. It has nothing to do with the upcoming by-elections and the Bharatiya Janata Party." When asked whether he seeks Ram Rahim's blessings to win the election? Naveen Kumar said that only the public decides who wins the election. "It is important to have people's blessings," he said.

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