Congress trashes panel report on Haryana violence

Reacting to a report by a three-member committee that went into violence in Haryana during the Jat agitation, the Congress on Friday said it was an attempt to "cover up" the whole affair.

Saying that the report maintains a conspiratorial silence on the suspect role of Bharatiya Janata Party ministers and leaders, the Congress reiterated its demand for a time-bound investigation by a Supreme Court judge into the violence.

The committee, headed by former director general of Uttar Pradesh and Assam police Prakash Singh, was set up to probe lapses on part of officials during the Jat agitation in February. It has held certain police and administrative officers guilty of laxity.

The panel submitted its report to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here on Friday.

"The report of former Indian Police Service officer Prakash Singh, who was brought from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Vivekananda Foundation to investigate the widespread riots and loss of lives and properties in Haryana, has turned out to be 'operation cover-up' to help the BJP," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

"The committee, which is bereft of any legal or constitutional sanction, has prepared its report to serve the vested and partisan interest of the Khattar government. No wonder that the report maintains a conspiratorial silence on the suspect role of Bharatiya Janata Party ministers and leaders in the entire episode.

"Shockingly, it also gives a clean chit to the state Crime Investigation Department, which utterly and miserably failed to forewarn about the riots and possible damage," added Surjewala.

He further accused the panel of failing to fix responsibility.

"The committee questioned the role of 90 state government officials but completely absolved itself of fixing their responsibility in the riots and made no recommendation regarding action against them," the Congress leader said.

"We reiterate our demand for a time-bound investigation into the riots by a Supreme Court judge, fixing of responsibility, action against the guilty and full compensation to those who lost their properties and lives," Surjewala added.

--IANS

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