Prakash Singh expresses regret to Hisar MP Dushyant
Former IPS officer Prakash Singh on Saturday said the statement attributed to Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MP from Hisar Dushyant Singh Chautala in his probe report was actually made by his brother Digvijay Singh Chautala.
Former IPS officer Prakash Singh on Saturday said the statement attributed to Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MP from Hisar Dushyant Singh Chautala in his probe report was actually made by his brother Digvijay Singh Chautala.
Expressing regret to the MP, Singh who headed the panel constituted to probe acts of omission and commission on part of police and civil administration officials during the February Jat quota violence in Haryana, sent a clarification to the state government on Saturday, seeking a correction in the report.
DUSHYANT INCENSED
The Hisar MP has sent a legal notice to Singh besides initiating a breach of privilege motion and a defamation case for damaging his reputation.
The statement attributed to the INLD MP in chapter 4 of the report titled ‘Adding fuel to Fire’ reads: “There are three things which I have heard and nothing betters them. Iron of Tata, shoe of Bata and a lad of Jataan (Jats). So these are Jat lads and none betters them.”
The introduction of chapter 4 read: “A distressing aspect of the unfortunate events in Haryana was that leaders of communities demanding and opposing reservations were making rabid statements in season and out of season. There was no restraint in the choice of words. Abuses were hurled. Adjectives were fired. It was a free for all. It was like adding fuel to fire.”
When contacted, both Dushyant and Digvijay Chautala said that they can only comment on Singh’s clarification after going through it. “Let’s wait till Sunday,’’ the Hisar MP said.
CLARIFICATION
Singh, in his clarification, said it was brought to his notice that Dushyant Chautala had not made any such statement. “The Director General of Police was requested to check the original audio video record. He has conveyed that while contents of the para are correct, the statement was actually made by Digvijay Chautala and not Dushyant as mentioned in the report. There was a mistake in conveying relevant information to the Committee and the mistake was unfortunately carried in the report,’’ he clarified.
‘REMARKS NOT DEFAMATORY’
The former IPS officer said that remarks made by Chautala were neither derogatory nor defamatory to any individual, community or organisation.
“As former chairman of the Committee, I nevertheless take full responsibility for the mistake and convey my deepest regrets to the MP. I would like to assure him there was absolutely no intention whatsoever to malign him or tarnish his reputation. It was a bonafide mistake of fact,’’ Singh said in his clarification.
When it was pointed out that probably Chautala’s statements in the report attained a provocative overtone as it was mentioned under a chapter titled ‘Adding Fuel to Fire’, the former IPS officer said that it was a matter of one’s interpretation.
‘NO ILL WILL’
Singh said he does not have any ill will or bias against any member of political class or officers or public. “It is not in my nature to harm anyone’s reputation. During the inquiry it was my unpleasant duty to place the true facts on record which I have done sincerely and with most transparent intentions,’’ he wrote.
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