Man tries to immolate self before Haryana CM in Sonipat

Tall claims of the BJP-led Haryana government fell flat with a middle-aged man attempting self-immolation on the arrival of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s ongoing “Jan Ashirwad Yatra” in Rathdhana village of Sonipat district on Monday.

The victim was reportedly forced to take the drastic step after his repeated representations to the state government and even to the Chief Minister failed to get a government job to his unemployed son.

The victim, identified as Rajesh Kumar of Rathdhana village, has been rushed to the PGIMS Rohtak with over 80 per cent burn injuries where his condition is said to be critical.

Eyewitnesses revealed that as Chief Minister’s Yatra virtually took a halt in the village, Rajesh Kumar poured some inflammable substance on his body, set him ablaze and ran towards the crowd at the Yatra. He was, however, overpowered by some persons.

In the incident four other persons also sustained burn injuries and were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Sonipat.

In his statement to the police, Rajesh claimed to have met Manohar Lal Khattar a couple of days ago in Haryana Bhawan in New Delhi and appraised the CM of his problems including employment children.

The victim claimed that the CM had assured to provide Group-D posts to his children but that proved just a consolation. This had left him upset, he claimed.

Meanwhile, Pratiksha Godhara, Superintendent of Police, Sonipat, informed mediapersons that the Yatra was nearing a halt in the village when the man set him afire.

The SP however, ruled out any breach in Chief Minister’s security as the police managed to get hold of the man much before others in the crowd. The police have started the investigations, Godhara added.

PTI reported that Kavita Jain, Haryana Minister and BJP MLA from Sonipat, said that when the yatra reached the village, they saw a man engulfed in flames after which security officials were asked to rush to his help.

"I was on board the yatra bus when we saw the man in flames. Four more persons also sustained burn injuries in the incident. The seriously injured person has been referred to PGIMS at Rohtak, while the other four are undergoing treatment in Sonipat civil hospital," Jain said.

The MLA said, "The reason why the man took the step will be probed, but the priority now is to save his life. The Haryana government will extend all help to them."

In wake of the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in Haryana, Khattar had embarked Jan Aashirwaad Yatra that is expected to cover all 90 assembly constituencies of Haryana.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had flagged off Khattar's Jan Ashirwad Yatra from Kalka on August 18 while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a mega rally in Rohtak on conclusion of his yatra on September 8.