2 MLAs embroiled in murder case given security cover

The Haryana government provided security cover to 41 people, including four legislators, between April 1, 2005, and January 15, 2013.

As on February 26, the number of policemen engaged with legislators is 291, said chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a statement tabled in the assembly on Friday in response to an un-starred question by Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) legislator Parminder Singh Dhull.

Among the legislators are two who are suspects in a murder case. Zile Ram Sharma, who had defected to the ruling party from the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC), and independent legislator Om Parkash Jain have been provided with an escort each with seven and four securitymen, respectively.

Sharma had won the Assandh segment on a HJC ticket and was a chief parliamentary secretary in the Hooda government, while Jain was a transport minister in the present dispensation.

They had resigned recently after being booked on a charge of murdering Karam Singh, sarpanch of Karnal's Kambopura village. Singh's son had alleged the both legislators had taken money from his father in lieu of providing jobs to his relatives.

The other two legislators - Venod Sharma and Anand Singh Dangi, who are known for their proximity to the chief minister - have been provided with an escort with six securitymen each.

Others who have the security cover include governor Jagannath Pahadia, who has a pilot and an escort of nine securitymen; chief minister Hooda, who has a pilot and two escorts in each carcade with 42 personnel; assembly speaker Kuldeep Sharma, who a pilot and an escort of 10 personnel; chief minister's wife Asha Hooda, who has an escort of six personnel; and Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who had an escort and 11 security personnel.

Besides, security cover has been given to Phool Chand Mullana, deputy chairman, high-powered committee on 20-point programme, who has an escort and five personnel; Akram Khan, assembly deputy speaker, who has an escort and six personnel; and PV Rathee, principal adviser, home and Crime Investigation Department (CID), who has an escort and five personnel.

R14 crore spent on politicians' cars

The Haryana government has incurred Rs 14.1 crore on cars given to ministers and chief parliamentary secretaries (CPSs) between April 1, 2005, and January 1, 2013.

“I have five vehicles, my 10 ministers have two each and all 11 CPSs have one each,” chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said in reply to a question raised by Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) legislator Parminder Singh Dhull.

The chief minister said former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan; former ministers Birender Singh, Kartar Devi, Laxman Das Arora, Savitri Jindal, Meena Rani, AC Choudhary, Mange Ram Gupta, OP Jain and Gopal Kanda had two vehicles each; and other former ministers and former CPSs had one each.