Refrain from comment before reading report: FM to officers

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19

Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu today advised officers, indicted in the Prakash Singh Committee report, to first read the report before making any observation against the government or their colleagues.

He was responding to a feud between IAS and IPS officers that started after submission of the report that looked into omission and commission on the part of officers of civil and police administration during the Jat agitation.

“No innocent officer will be punished, while those who did not perform their duty will face action. But no one whether he is a senior or a junior should make any observation against his colleagues before reading the report in detail. There is no need to get anxious before going into the details of the report,” the minister told The Tribune here.

When asked whether or not the government was serious to take action on the report, he said: “The government is committed to punish all those involved in damaging property during the agitation in February. It will take action after studying the report. There is no confusion about the Prakash Singh committee and Justice SN Jha commission, as both have different areas to work.”

Then why the Justice SN Jha commission? “The Prakash Singh Committee was formed to inquire into the role of officers during the agitation, whereas the commission was formed to look into the sequence of events of violence leading to loss of lives; damage to property, canals, railway stations and police stations; illegal felling of trees and violation of human rights in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Jind, Hisar, Kaithal and Bhiwani.”

The minister, meanwhile, denied media reports about his differences with his Cabinet colleagues over the report. “I have not studied the report. So, how can I have differences with my colleagues? The Cabinet wants to punish the guilty,” Capt Abhimanyu added.