Chandigarh, Oct 14 (NationPress) Referring to it as a significant tragedy and an urgent issue, Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to honor their promises to the family and take action against the officials accountable for caste-based discrimination against Haryana IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, who tragically took his own life on October 7 in Chandigarh.

After visiting Puran Kumar's family, Congress MP Gandhi stated, “This is a tragedy. He served as an IPS officer. The Haryana CM has assured the family that justice will be served, yet three days have passed with no progress. Y. Puran Kumar has two daughters who are now fatherless and under severe emotional strain. This sends a harmful message to millions of Dalits; no matter how accomplished or bright you are, you can still be oppressed. My request as LoP (Leader of Opposition) to the PM and Haryana CM is to honor the pledges made to the daughters, permit the funeral, end this charade, and take action against the officials pressuring the family,” he emphasized.

Gandhi pointed out that the couple belongs to the Dalit community and stated, “It is evident that there has been systematic discrimination for years aimed at demoralizing this officer and tarnishing his career and reputation by other officers.”

The Congress leader further stressed, “This matter is sensitive. The DGP, who has been put on leave, is a current officer. We all understand the kind of pressure that can be applied to them. There must be actions taken, and arrests must be made, as the case against Puran Kumar was falsely constructed. The family seeks dignity. They assert he was disrespected and targeted in his career, but at the very least, grant him respect posthumously. This is not solely a family issue; it concerns Dalits across the nation. I urge the PM and the Haryana CM to act without hesitation,” Gandhi stated unequivocally.

Just hours after Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur was placed on leave amidst the uproar over Puran Kumar's suicide, Om Parkash Singh was assigned additional responsibilities as the Director General of Police. The government acted by placing DGP Kapur on leave following demands from Kumar's family for accountability against him and other officials for their harassment of Puran Kumar.

Puran Kumar’s wife has yet to approve the autopsy of her husband's body, claiming “influential, high-ranking officials of Haryana are involved in this case.”

Eight days post-suicide, his body remains in a mortuary. A deadlock persists between Puran Kumar’s wife and the state government regarding the demand for the arrest of DGP Kapur and the dismissed Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya.