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How states were left to burn

The High Court says there was a “complete collusion” between the people moving into Panchkula and the state government

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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar
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Learning no lessons from the 2016 Jat quota violence, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar allowed lakhs of Dera followers — equipped with firearms and petrol — to pour into the state over the past several days, even ignoring intelligence reports from the Centre and neighbouring Punjab. It finally took the Punjab and Haryana High Court to ask the State to control the mobs. But by then, it was already too late.

Coming down heavily on Haryana government for the breakdown of law and order in Panchkula, the High Court said there was a “complete collusion” between the people moving into Panchkula and the state government.

Even after the death and destruction, there is no word on fixing responsibility. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Forces were deployed as per the requests of the state government.” On being asked how the situation turned violent and mobs were allowed to gather, he said that the state administration cannot be blamed as in a democracy, people cannot be stopped.

“I appeal to all to maintain peace. Any harm to life and property cannot be compensated,” he added.

Sources in intelligence agencies told DNA that inputs had been sent to the state governments of Haryana and Punjab where bloodshed was predicted if self-styled Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted. But they fail to understand why despite warnings, the local administration did not act. Thousands kept gathering in Panchkula, but no efforts were made to stop them.   

More intriguing is that there were more than 150 companies of central armed police forces rushed to maintain peace. A heavy deployment of nearly 15,000 personnel along with state forces was also there. It is the state government’s responsibility to use forces. Officials here are aghast why such a huge force was not utilised to stop spiralling violence.

“There were several intelligence reports shared with the authorities. We couldn’t have sent more forces,” said a central government official.

Minutes after violence erupted, the Army was also rushed to control the raging mobs. Sources said close to 800 troops were sent to Panchkula and Sirsa. In fact after the verdict, it was an Army escort that slipped in Ram Rahim to Chandimandir Cantonment that is stationed metres away from the court from where he was flown in a helicopter to the Rohtak jail.

Barely one-and-a-half years ago there was similar violence during the Jat quota agitation in February last year. Like in the past, intelligence inputs clearly warning the state about mob violence had started to come in two weeks in advance but were ignored. A letter was also written by the Director General of Police (Law and Order) of Punjab a few days ago, warning his fellow officers that Ram Rahim’s followers were seen storing inflammables in drums and stocking sharp instruments, but the Haryana police did nothing. According to sources, the state got its first warning on August 18, when hundreds of Dera followers walked into the CBI court assuming that it was the verdict day. The police was caught unawares.

The godman has been a darling of political parties, including the BJP government of Haryana. At least three senior state ministers in the government — Ram Bilas Sharma, Anil Vij and Manish Grover — gifted the Dera Chief Rs 1.12 crore.

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