How states were left to burn

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 …read more