A major rally in Sonipat celebrating one year of the Nayab Singh Saini government, which was to feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been postponed

CHANDIGARH: A mega celebration in Sonipat to mark one year of the Nayab Singh Saini govt, scheduled for Friday, has been put on hold in view of the deepening tensions over the suicide of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, multiple sources told TOI on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address the ‘Jan Vishwas-Jan Vikas’ rally. Protests following the IPS officer’s suicide and growing support of opposition parties and Dalit pressure groups for his wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, had caste a shadow on the event.According to sources, the decision to postpone the event was taken after CM Nayab Singh Saini and chief secretary Anurag Rastogi chaired a meeting to review arrangements at the Sonipat venue.

After the meeting, the CM set off for New Delhi by road where he would have stayed for the night and met dignitaries the next day. He was also due to attend a programme in Nuh on Tuesday. But Saini cut short his tour midway and returned to Chandigarh at night.“Officers were supposed to attend a briefing by central officers from SPG and other agencies (for the PM’s visit). We have been informed to put it on hold. We are awaiting final official confirmation,” a senior govt official told TOI on Monday night.The event was being overshadowed by deepening tension over the IPS officer’s suicide, and his and his family’s allegations that casteist harassment by senior officers drove him to suicide. For over six days, the family has refused to give consent for an autopsy. The top brass of Haryana govt, including chief principal secretary to chief minister Rajesh Khullar, have met the family but the deadlock persists as Amneet demands action against Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur.