Haryana government today ordered a judicial inquiry to probe the conspiracy behind the incidents which pushed the state into unprecedented "turmoil" during the Jat quota agitation that left 30 people dead and damage to property.
Replying on the adjournment motion in the Assembly after about 4-hour long discussion, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, "Opposition leader (Abhay Singh Chautala) has sought (judicial inquiry) and we have ordered judicial inquiry."
He said judicial enquiry shall be conducted to "completely unearth the entire conspiracy" behind the series of sad and unfortunate incidents which continued for 80 hours in the month of February.
"Some political people who wanted to serve their own interests did not want the meeting between government and Jat leaders successful. Names of some Congress leaders have appeared (behind violence) and Virender (close aide of Hooda) has surrendered and is in police custody. We shall try to elicit details from him about conspirators who instigated violence and arsonists. Because Virender cannot alone instigate on his own. There is a conspiracy which will be unearthed soon," he said.
"Strict action is being taken against criminals who, in the name of agitation, indulged in criminal activities. As on March 21, 2016, a total of 2087 criminal cases have been registered in various police stations of the State in connection with the reservation agitation and a total of 444 criminals have been arrested
Unwilling to accept "willful negligence" on the part of the state government, Khattar described allegations of administration becoming "paralysed" during the peak of violence in several parts of state as "untrue and baseless", claiming that "mayhem" was controlled in "short duration".
On the issue of alleged sexual assault of women by arsonists at Murthal in Sonipat, Khattar said the government was helpless in taking any action in the absence of any complaint in this regard.
Earlier, after the Question Hour, Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal allowed discussion on the adjournment motion moved by Leader of Opposition and INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala and Independent MLA Jai Parkash on the issue of violence taking place in the state during Jat reservation last month.
Blaming the state government for "failing" to anticipate the situation which later "exploded" into large scale violence and deaths, Chautala sought a judicial commission headed by sitting judge of the Supreme Court or High Court be instituted to go into the events leading to the violence.
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Prima facie, some facts have come to our notice which point towards involvement and planning by some leaders and workers of Congress and Lok Dal," Khattar said even as Congress members were not present in the House.
Khattar also took names of few Congress workers including Dharmendra, Mahender Hoodam Yoginde who were allegedly involved in setting the house of Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu in fire.
FIR was also lodged against INSO leader Pradeep Deswal and Congress District President Rohtak Rahul Jain for giving inflammatory speech, he said.
"We will not spare anybody whosoever is involved in this incident," the chief minister said.
He informed the House that state government has received claims of Rs 365 crore for property loss and a sum of Rs 28.17 crore has been disbursed as interim compensation to affected persons in respect of 1,997 claims. Government property worth Rs 17.14 crore was also damaged in violence during Jat stir, he said.
To a question posed by INLD on identification of BSF Jawan who was injured in Rohtak, Khattar said some anti social elements from the mob had fired at BSF jawan identified as Head Constable Pyare Lal and he got injured in the incident and mob did not allow to take him to hospital.
"Then BSF opened fire in self defence as a result of which one person died," Khattar said.
He informed the House that during the whole series of events, a total of 30 persons died, 320 people sustained injuries including 72 personnel belonging to police and other security forces.
"Due to prompt and sustained efforts, the situation was completely controlled by February 22, 2016. Probably in the history of our country it is for the first time that such a violent incident could be controlled in such a small duration," he said.
Khattar said, "On February 20, as many as 100 additional companies of paramilitary force and additional columns of Army were demanded from Government of India. The security arrangements were fortified in all the districts of the State.
"I issued clear orders that mixed columns of Haryana Police, Armed Police, paramilitary forces and Army, as per the need and availability, shall effectively patrol all the affected cities," he said, adding that air force choppers were used to air lift the army at Rohtak and paramilitary force at Gohana because of road blockades.
Currently, 62 companies of paramilitary force was deployed in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Hisar and some other areas.
The Chief Minister said stern action has been initiated
against the erring officers and officials.
"While a police personnel has been dismissed under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution of India, the Government has placed under suspension one Inspector General of Police and two Deputy Superintendents of Police and initiated further action against them. Action has also been initiated against some more police officials," Khattar informed the House.
The Chief Minister said "I would like to assure this August House that our Government is capable of successfully handling any unpleasant incident. Strict and sufficient action will be taken against persons of criminal nature, innocent persons will not be unnecessarily harassed and all decisions will be taken on merit. Any police or administrative official found negligent in discharge of his duties will not be spared."
He requested all the Members of the House to rise above personal and political interests and to resolve to stop recurrence of such unfortunate incidents in future.
Earlier, participating in the discussion, Chautala hit out at BJP government for "failing" to act fast which led to loot and burning of properties by arsonists and said had the BJP been able to stop MP Raj Kumar Saini for "spewing venom" against Jats, the state could have been saved from mayhem.
He asked what action has been taken against those who were involved in this incident and damaging the memorial of Chaudhary Devi Lal, Dulla Ram.
Participating in the discussion, Haryana Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar put the "blame" on Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda for "engineering" the violence in the state during Jat stir. He claimed that Sampla area in Rohtak was chosen to trigger widespread riots in the state.
"When we look at the map of the state, arson and violence had occurred only at Sampla, Kiloi, Beri, Gohana and such places which were represented by the Congress party members," he said.
"State Government had conceded all demands regarding reservation raised by Khaps and other organizations, but subsequently Congress party had misled the youth at Sampla and hijacked the agitation that lead to arson and violence in the state," he said.
"Approaching roads towards Rohtak were blocked which was a pre-planned move of Congress leaders. Jat leaders had told us that agitation was no longer in their hands and agitation was in the hands of Hooda and Congress," he alleged.
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Dhankar alleged members of the INLD had spared no effort to air the flames of reservation agitation. He said that when all demands were conceded after a meeting of Jat representatives with the Chief Minister, INSO State President Pardeep Deswal had made statements that Jats would not agree to any decision and that "intensified" the agitation.
To which, Chauatla said that he had always said that action be taken against whosoever was involved. "But why are you saving others who are also involved," Chautala said while pointing towards BJP MP Saini.
Haryana Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu alleged that the Congress party was responsible for violence during the Jat reservation agitation in the state, saying the violence was scripted by the previous government.
"My house was attacked and it was burnt. My family was saved by neighbours. Those who led the mob which torched my house were the supporters of the former Chief Minister.
"It was a preplanned move and they wanted to play politics on the bodies of innocent people," said the minister.
He alleged that the previous government systematically created the "drama" of Jat reservation during the last moment and left various shortcomings in it.
After going through the geographical map of the State, it becomes crystal clear that violence remained confined to only those areas where the Congress MLAs have been elected, he claimed.
INLD leader Parminder Dhull "blamed" police for thrashing students at Neki Ram hostel badly during the Jat quota agitation.
He said one caste should not be held responsible for this incident and also sought action against certain section of media for spreading false news relating to Murthal.
Haryana Janhit Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi sought action against those who perpetrated the violence.
He even claimed that he had come across a family in Jhajjar which complained of rape incident to which BJP leader and cabinet minister O P Dhankar said not to spoil the image of the state by making "false" statements.
During the discussion BJP leader, Manish Grover accused Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress of being "involved in instigating" the violence during Jat agitation.
Haryana Cabinet Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said Congress leaders were "hiding" by not attending the ongoing session as they were "behind the conspiracy".
Independent MLA Jai Prakash, however, said Hooda could not be behind the conspiracy, the statement which was strongly condemned by members of treasury benches while Haryana minister Abhimanyu said, "we will give proof.
INLD leaders led by Chautala strongly objected to the
objectionable word used by BJP MLA Pawan Saini and demanded apology from the same.
Discussion on adjournment motion was disrupted for a while when INLD MLA stood up and demanded from Speaker to take back his words. Saini then said if anybody was hurt by his words, he take back his statement.
Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimany during discussion on adjournment motion said he is ready to go through any narco analysis or polygraph test for the satisfaction of those raising questions regarding his role in the recent Jat reservation agitation in the State.
Abhimanyu said that if there is a test to verify his role, he is prepared to go through the same also.
He said INLD MLA Hari Chand Midha has asked to get his Narco test conducted.
If Narco or Polygraph test gives satisfaction to someone, he is prepared for the same, said the Minister adding that Norco test of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Independent MLA Jai Parkash should also be conducted so as to bring truth in the public.
