When Rome (Haryana) was burning Nero (Manohar Lal) was playing flute.Jat agitation for reservation-a decade back

Gustakhi Maaf Haryana: Pawan Kumar Bansal

Extracts from my forthcoming book on the politics, governance, and culture of Haryana, titled “Murky Politics of Haryana.”

Flashback from history — written during the 2016 agitation by Jats for reservation in jobs and educational institutions.
Story of an officer more loyal than the King.

This refers to the conversation between SDM Hansi, Prashant Atkan, and Rajesh Khullar, then Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.

I need not remind my readers that during the agitation, which was joined by anti-social elements, there was virtually no government in Haryana for two days. Even the Army was helpless, and in Rohtak, judges had taken shelter in private houses. Then CID Chief Shatrujit Kapoor and DGP Yashpal Singhal were shifted from their posts, but Manohar Lal, the then Chief Minister, remained safe, courtesy the blessings of PM Modi.

The situation was such that when Rome (Haryana) was burning, Nero (Manohar Lal) was playing the flute.

During the agitation, Prashant Atkan, the blue-eyed boy of Rajesh Khullar, then Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, was posted as SDM, Hansi, and Narendra Kadiyan was DSP. Atkan complained to the Chief Secretary against Kadiyan, accusing him of being soft on the agitators.

Atkan’s conversation with Khullar on his mobile phone was leaked to the media. According to the conversation, Atkan had gone to the dharna venue in disguise and found that agitators were coming in vehicles and raising derogatory slogans against CM Manohar Lal, and that DSP Kadiyan was not checking them.

Khullar, while sharing his mobile number with Atkan, advised him to send a copy of his complaint against Kadiyan so that action could be taken against him. Khullar further advised Atkan that he should not have gone to the dharna site in disguise, as had he been identified by the agitators and taken into custody, it would have created problems for him as well as for the government.

Atkan was suspended but was soon reinstated.

The rest is history. Haryana has no shortage of officers who are more loyal than the King.