Jat agitation: Former Haryana CM Hooda asked to leave Rohtak

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was asked to leave Rohtak on Tuesday night, the town worst hit by Jat violence, by the district administration which cited maintenance of peace as the reason for the order.

Hooda, a Congress leader, has been asked to leave Rohtak "to ensure peace and harmony," official sources said. Hooda told PTI that he had received the order advising him to leave Rohtak and not stay here for the night by the district administration for maintenance of law and order.

"As a law abiding citizen I complied with the directions issued by the Principal Secretary A K Singh and left the town immediately," he said, adding he was on his way to Delhi.

Asked whether the administration could issue such a direction, he said it could do so keeping the law and order in mind. Hooda's close aide and senior Congress leader B B Batra said two IPS officers first came to Hooda's residence and verbally asked him to leave the town.

"But Hooda declined saying he cannot leave on verbal instructions," Batra said, adding the former Chief Minister sought an administrative order.

Batra said that later an order was issued by Principal Secretary A K Singh, who has been appointed the Special Officers for Rohtak during the Jat agitation. He issued the order on ground of maintenance of law and order. The former Chief Minister immediately complied with the order and left for Delhi, Batra said.