Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the death of Haryana police officer Y Puran Kumar is not just about one family’s dignity, but about the respect of all Dalits. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to take swift action in the case.
After meeting Kumar’s family in Chandigarh, Gandhi told reporters that the officer had faced systematic discrimination meant to demoralise him and harm his career.
“A wrong message is being sent out to Dalits… that no matter how successful you are, if you are Dalit, you can be oppressed and crushed,” Gandhi said.
‘Pressure on family, inquiry not fair,’ says Gandhi
The Congress leader said that despite promises, the Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had failed to ensure a free and fair investigation. “Haryana CM assured the family that justice would be done, but three days have passed with no action,” he said.
He added that Kumar’s family, especially his two daughters, were under immense pressure.
His visit came at a time when the opposition has intensified its criticism of the Haryana government over the alleged suicide of the senior police officer.
What did IPS Officer’s Officer’s Note Mentions Caste Discrimination
In an eight-page note allegedly written by Kumar before his death, the 52-year-old officer named eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and former Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, accusing them of “blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation and atrocities.”