KurukshetraFormer Haryana Sports Minister Sandeep Singh, accused of sexual harassment, faced protests from a woman who shouted slogans when she came close to the stage during the Republic Day function in Pehowa on Thursday. Nationalist Congress Party’s student group president Sonia Duhan protested against the minister by reaching near the stage after unfurling the national flag during the programme.
Sonia was taken away by the police and later released. Singh, a first-time MLA from Pehowa in Kurukshetra, had come here to unfurl the national flag on the occasion of Republic Day. He was earlier accused of sexual harassment by a female coach. He has denied all the allegations. Talking to reporters, Sonia said that she will continue to protest until the minister is arrested.
Police had made elaborate security arrangements in view of the call for protests against the minister by various khaps. Police had set up several check posts to prevent any protestors from entering the venue. Several workers of Janhit Mahila Morcha, Kurukshetra and Aam Aadmi Party, who had planned to protest, had already been taken into custody by the police.
Various khaps of Haryana were demanding that the BJP-led government in the state should sack Sandeep Singh. A former Olympian, Singh had quit his sports portfolio after a case was registered against him on a complaint by a woman coach, but he remained a minister in the Printing and Stationery department in the ML Khattar government.