Former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda at a press conference in Chandigarh on April 30.
Former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda, accused of abetting the suicide of an airhostess, today launched his own political party. Mr Kanda, an Independent MLA, was arrested last year and is currently out on bail.
Launching his Haryana Lokhit Party, Mr Kanda said the outfit would work to end "dynasty rule, casteism and regionalism in politics" and work for the development of the state. The 46-year-old, the former Home Minister of Haryana, had withdrawn support to the Congress government in the state two days back following differences with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
"The state is lagging behind in the field of education, healthcare and trade," he said, adding, "the people of Haryana are looking for a viable alternative. The state's politics has been under the control of two or three political families. We want to change this," he said.
The legislator had earlier this week accused Mr Hooda of betraying him during crises and also charged the state government with tapping the phones of its ministers and MLAs. The state government, however, has denied the charges.
Mr Kanda was arrested in August last after Geetika Sharma, working with his MDLR Airlines, was found dead earlier in the month at her Ashok Vihar residence in northwest Delhi. In her suicide note, the 23-year-old had said she was ending her life due to "harassment" by Mr Kanda and his close aide, Aruna Chadha.
The duo has been charged with abetment of suicide, criminal conspiracy, forgery and offences under the IT Act for hacking computers and sending offensive or false messages.
Mr Kanda was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in March this year.