Chandigarh: The Haryana government on Tuesday called off all district-level events planned for October 17, the day marking the first anniversary of the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government, in the wake of the ongoing controversy surrounding the death of senior IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar.
The decision came just hours after Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur was sent on leave following his name surfacing in an FIR related to the case.
In an official communication issued on Tuesday morning, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi directed all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to cancel the planned celebrations. “There will be no one-year completion function either in Sonepat or in any other district on October 17,” Rastogi’s note read. The message made special mention of Sonepat district, which had been preparing to host the central event featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a further sign of the government’s subdued mood, the Chief Secretary also informed that the IAS Association’s annual Diwali dinner would not be held this year.
The announcement follows Prime Minister Modi’s decision to withdraw from his scheduled visit to Sonepat, where he was slated to address the ‘Jan Vishwas – Jan Vikas’ rally at Rai Education City. The event was meant to highlight the BJP government’s achievements over the past year and signal the start of its pre-election outreach.
However, the political atmosphere in the state has been tense since the suicide of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, whose note reportedly named several senior police and administrative officials, including DGP Kapur. The issue has drawn widespread criticism and public outrage, with opposition parties accusing the government of mishandling the case and delaying justice.
According to sources, the Prime Minister’s decision to skip the event was influenced by the mounting political pressure on the Saini government to act decisively in the case and address the demands of the deceased officer’s family, which has been seeking accountability and transparency in the investigation.
The cancellation of both the anniversary celebrations and the Diwali gathering reflects the Haryana government’s effort to contain the growing controversy and project sensitivity at a time when the administration is under intense public and political scrutiny.
With the DGP now on leave and a new officer holding temporary charge, the state government is expected to focus on managing the fallout from the high-profile case and restoring public confidence in its handling of the matter.
