CHANDIGARH: Asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to act immediately in the case of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar’s death by suicide, senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, strongly criticised the delay in action on the assurances given to Kumar’s family by the Haryana Government. He said the matter was not about the respect of one family but about the dignity of Dalits across the country.
Talking to the media after meeting the bereaved family of Kumar for about 45 minutes at their official residence in Sector 24 here, Gandhi said, “A tragedy has taken place. He was a government officer and the Chief Minister gave a personal commitment to the family that a free and fair inquiry will be held and action will be initiated in the matter. Three days ago, the Haryana CM (Saini) gave the commitment but it is not being fulfilled. Because of this, the officer's two daughters, especially, who lost their father, are under a lot of pressure and disturbance.”
Urging authorities to allow Kumar’s final rites to take place peacefully and to “end this drama,” Gandhi said there was a lot of pressure on Kumar's family, particularly his two daughters.
He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini ensure that their commitments to the family are honoured.
“My message to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister is simple: fulfil the commitment you have made to these two daughters. You fulfil it and let their papa’s funeral take place. Stop this ‘tamasha’ and allow their father’s funeral to take place with dignity,” he said.
“The family’s message is clear that they want respect for Kumar even after his death. They have said clearly, you disrespected my husband and tried to destroy his career. He died by suicide. At least respect him now after his death. Their demand is legitimate. If you do not give respect, then it is not acceptable to us. The family’s demand is not just about their dignity, it’s about the dignity of every Dalit family in India. It is not a question of respect of one family; it is a matter of respect for every Dalit brother and sister,” Gandhi said.
He emphasised that it was not only a matter concerning one family. “A wrong message is going to crores of Dalit brothers and sisters in the country that no matter how successful, intelligent or capable you may be, if you are a Dalit, you can be suppressed, crushed and thrown away. This is not acceptable to us,” he said.
Gandhi added, “I want to send this clear message to the PM and the Haryana CM to take action against the officers and end the pressure on this family.”
He alleged that there was systematic discrimination against Kumar to demoralise him and damage his career. “It is very clear that not since 10 to 15 days, but for many years systematic discrimination had been happening to demoralise this officer, to damage his career and his reputation. And systematically other officers were working,” he said.
On the decision to send Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur on leave, Gandhi said this was a sensitive case and there could be a lot of pressure on a serving officer. “The FIR has already been registered. Now arrest those responsible immediately. I am again saying to the PM and the Haryana CM, take action at the earliest,” he added.
He further said there should be sensitivity in handling the matter. “She (the wife of the deceased IPS officer) is a serving officer. You understand, and the country understands, what kind of pressure they can face. A false case has been lodged,” he said, apparently referring to the registration of a case in Rohtak recently.
The Rohtak Police had registered a case on the complaint of a liquor contractor who alleged that Head Constable Sushil Kumar had sought a bribe of ₹2.5 lakh in the deceased officer’s name when he was posted there.
Fifty-two-year-old Kumar, a 2001-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, allegedly died by suicide by shooting himself at his house on October 7.
Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Police detained several Youth Congress workers as they attempted to march towards the residence of the Haryana Chief Minister to protest against the government’s alleged inaction in the case.
Deepak Lubana, president of the Chandigarh Youth Congress, said the protesters were stopped en route and forcefully taken to the police station. The protesting Congress workers were carrying banners demanding the immediate arrest of the officers named in Kumar's suicide note.
