‘Don’t spare rapist baba’: What Twitter thinks about Ram Rahim’s prospect of parole

Tribune Web Desk 
Chandigarh, June 26 

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has sought parole for 42 days for farming on his land in Sirsa. 

The 51-year-old, who is currently lodged at Sunaria jail in Rohtak, has been behind bars since 2017 after being convicted in two rape cases and, more recently, the murder of a journalist. 

Following his application for the parole, the jail superintendent has written to the Sirsa district administration recommending his parole for “good behaviour” in a letter dated June 18. 

When asked for his comment recently, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said: “Anyone who is entitled for parole can seek one. We cannot stop anyone". 

Asked about who would be responsible in case violence breaks out if the Dera chief was granted parole, Khattar said: "You are trying to draw inference on your own as if any decision has been taken."

After news of the jail superintendent's recommendation started circulating, some said the move was politically motivated.

As the day wore on, #DontSpareRapistBaba started trending on Twitter, encapsulating the public sentiment.

Twitter reactions: 

Don't lie, you're dying to see this fine specimen in the Parliament, aren't you? Bolo, bolo!#DontSpareRapistBaba pic.twitter.com/B1sek8F7WO

— Amit Schandillia (@AmitSchandillia) 24 June 2019

#DontSpareRapistBaba A rapist is a rapist. But Baba Ram Rahim is A SERIAL RAPIST. A HARDCORE CRIMINAL. A POWERFUL PERSON.
Parole should not be granted to him.
It will send a wrong signal to the Society.
It will also create a bad precedent. pic.twitter.com/WjFBOiIg1j

— Mohammed Jaleel Kashif (@jaleelmdkashif) 24 June 2019

- He is in jail for rape, castration and murder.

- He might get released soon because he wants to do "agriculture".

- His million of followers cast their vote on his command.

- Also Haryana's assembly elections will be held in a couple of months.#DontSpareRapistBaba pic.twitter.com/RGbg3x4VCQ

— Bharat Ek Mauj (@BharatEkMauj) 24 June 2019

How will rapes stop if the government backs the rapists??#DontSpareRapistBaba

— Piya Kaur Bajaj (@piyakaurbajaj22) 24 June 2019

#DontSpareRapistBaba on one hand u want to do beti bacaho n beti parao and on the other hand u free Rapists.. baffling !!

— Amit Chatterjee (@am_x_it) 24 June 2019

#DontSpareRapistBaba No parole for crooks and rapists please . He must rot in jail for his crime.

— Totlani Krishan (@kktotlani) 24 June 2019

Some of Ram Rahim's hardcore supporters came out in his support.

#NoMoreSufferings
Saint Ram Rahim Ji organised medical camps time to time in which pateints checked by superspecialist doctors at free of cost and medicines also provides to them @Gurmeetramrahim @derasachasauda pic.twitter.com/sJMuyZDiUA

— Gudu Insa (@InsaGudu) 25 June 2019

The issue of parole of #BabaRamRahim is getting so much negative attention. Don't know why! Is there any personal resentment for Baba Ram Rahim? pic.twitter.com/thUpIVxzN6

— Payal (@Payal77Singla) 24 June 2019

Why is there hush hush, when it comes to exceptionally great works done by #BabaRamRahim at Sunaria?

Court can give parole to those who have great political influence, even if they are part of multiple murders and crimes, but not to Baba Ram Rahim who is fully cooperating. Why??

— Tanushree Katyaal (@TKatyaal) 24 June 2019