CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Police on Wednesday booked former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s political adviser Prof Virender Singh on sedition charges for his alleged involvement in flaring up the Jat agitation.
The case against Virender has been registered on the basis of a 90-second audio clip of a telephonic conversation allegedly between him and a Khap leader, which went viral in the wake of the Jat agitation for grant of reservation.
The case was registered at the Civil Lines Police Station in Rohtak against Virender and another person for abetment, provocation with intent to cause riot, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language and indulging in acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, sedition and criminal conspiracy.
Virender has admitted that the voice in the audio clip was his, but claimed the conversation had been “doctored”. He maintained that he had not attempted to instigate Jats or any other community for that matter. “Moreover, the conversation is an old one, much before the current unrest,” he said.
The Congress served a show-cause notice to Virender after the audio clip came to light.
Leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly Abhay Singh Chautala said the audio clip revealed Virender’s attempt to “instigate” protesters.
Chautala called for a Judicial Commission to be set up, headed by a sitting or retired Justice of the Supreme Court or High Court, to probe the matter and provide speedy justice to those who suffered losses in the unrest. The Commission of Inquiry should also look into the reports that suggested certian passengers had been subjected to harassment along the national highway and an SIT be set up to investigate the matter, he said.
Meanwhile, the Haryana government on Wednesday decided to appoint Prakash Singh, a retired IPS officer, to inquire into the acts of omission and commission on the part of all officers and officials of both the Police and Civil Administration during the Jat agitation that resulted in blockades of roads, violence and extensive damage to public and private properties in many districts.
Virender will submit his report in this regard within 45 days.
Lens on role of officers in stir
Chandigarh: The Haryana Government on Wednesday appointed a retired IPS officer “to inquire into the acts of omission and commission on part of officers of both police and civil administration during the Jat quota agitation which resulted in violence, blockade of roads and extensive damage to public and private properties.” “Haryana has decided to appoint Prakash Singh, a retired IPS officer to inquire into the acts of omission and commission on part of all officers and officials of both Police and Civil Administration,” an official said.