Fearing backlash from the opposition on Jat quota agitation yet again, Haryana Government has asked retired IPS officer Prakash Singh to stop working on his second report into the violent Jat agitation held in February in the State.
Retired IPS Prakash Singh’s first report had indicted several officers in police and administration for their failure to control violence during Jat quota stir.
“I was to give reports in two phases. First, on the violence during protests on reservation and second to look into police reforms in the State. However, the Haryana Government has given me in writing that they do not want the second report,” Parkash Singh told the mediapersons.
The Padma Shri recipient said that the State Government had sent him a formal letter saying he had done a “commendable job” in his first report. However, the letter said that there is “no need” for the second report and they will act on the recommendations made in the first, he said.
The Jat agitation had led to the deaths of 30 people, injured more than 300 and resulted in loss of public and government property amounting to crores of rupees.
Singh had indicted the then additional chief secretary (Home) P K Das and then DGP Yashpal Singal in the first report who lost their postings while many other officials were transferred and a few more were placed under suspension.
Singh added that the initial report submitted by him was not comprehensive.
No reason was given to him by the State Government for stopping work on the second report, he added.
Following the first report, the opposition had launched a scathing attack on the BJP led Haryana Government for failing to act during Jat stir.
The first report had faulted the top brass, among others, for inaction and caste bias.
Parkash Singh in his 451-page report on violence during the Jat quota stir, had said that the "administrative paralysis" had gripped the state and the "highest functionaries in the government failed to show the kind of guidance, direction and control that is expected in a crisis of such proportions".
He had indicted 90 police and administrative officers for their "failure to act". For his first report, he had heard 2,217 persons drawn from different walks of life and more than 100 video films taken during the agitation were received by him.
Prakash Singh had submitted the first report to the Haryana Government on May 13.
Observing that “caste bias” in both civil administration and police was seen during the agitation, the report pointed out that “caste bias” led to inaction against rioters, connivance with the vandals, absence of officers from duty and abetment of the hooligans.”