Varnika like my daughter, says Subhash Barala

Breaking silence four days after his son was arrested for stalking a senior Haryana bureaucrat's daughter, the BJP's state chief Subhash Barala on Tuesday said the law will take its own course. He also denied any pressure on the police from him or his party.

"To get justice for Varnika, whatever action needs to be taken as per procedure against Vikas (Barala) and Ashish, that should take place," Barala told the media here.

"The BJP supports freedom of our daughters. Varnika Kundu is like my daughter. In this matter, there is no pressure, nor will be, from the BJP or from me on anyone," said Barala, who clearly appeared to be under pressure from his party and the government to issue the statement.

He added that "action (in the matter) is going on as per procedure".

Barala, who was avoiding the media ever since his son Vikas Barala's name figured in the case of stalking of Haryana Additional Chief Secretary V.S. Kundu's daughter Varnika, came before the media to make the brief statement personally.

However, Barala did not take any questions from the media.

The Chandigarh Police had on Saturday booked and arrested Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish, both of whom were drunk, on the milder charge of stalking the young woman after they chased her car on their SUV. Both were bailed out within hours of the complaint being filed. The woman alleged that the youths tried to intimidate her and abduct her.

The Chandigarh Police have exposed themselves in this incident with repeated flip-flops in handling the matter. The force has been criticised for favouring the VIP brats.

Opposition parties and leaders have been demanding that the Bharatiya Janata Party should seek Barala's resignation as the state BJP chief.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has, however, defended Barala senior by saying that the incident was related to an "individual" (son) and the BJP chief had nothing to do with it.